Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/the-signal-hour-today-at-1pm-et-11/
I dove deep into the world of digital currencies, stable coins, and the broader digital landscape with my good friend and expert, Aaron Day. I’ll be honest—I’m no tech wizard. I’ve never coded a coin or fully grasped what a token is, but I’m deeply concerned about privacy and control in this new digital era, and I know we need to approach it with eyes wide open.
Aaron kicked things off by breaking down how our money system already operates—96% digital, created out of thin air in databases like Oracle at the Federal Reserve. It’s essentially a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in disguise, with the government writing checks from digital accounts. Even at local banks, money is just numbers in a database, backed by nothing but reserves at the Fed. This means our financial transactions are already tracked—by at least 13 federal programs, as Aaron pointed out. The IRS, using AI, works with banks to monitor us, and those lengthy “click wrap” agreements we sign without reading? They allow banks to cancel accounts, change fees, and share our data without consent.
What struck me most is how much surveillance is already in place. The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, the Patriot Act, and even the CARES Act have piled on layers of financial oversight, often under the guise of emergencies unrelated to money. Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering laws make opening a bank account a hassle, yet they catch less than 1% of crime while costing billions. Meanwhile, the government ignores its own fraud—think Medicare or Social Security abuses—while scrutinizing us for minor transactions. Aaron highlighted how the Treasury can lower reporting thresholds overnight, as they did in certain zip codes from $10,000 to $200, showing just how much control they wield over a fully digital system.
We also discussed programmability and censorship. Money like HSAs or EBT cards is already restricted—dictating where and what you can buy. This could easily expand to broader control, like banning red meat or enforcing social policies. Financial censorship is real too; banks can close accounts without cause, as seen with high-profile figures and industries like crypto or gun shops. This isn’t just government-driven—big banks like JP Morgan Chase often lead the charge, enabled by the contracts we sign.
Aaron and I also touched on the bigger picture: our debt-based fiat system is unsustainable. Fiat currencies historically last about 27 years, and the U.S. dollar is flashing red on all seven collapse indicators—mismanagement, corruption, war, and more. With $37 trillion in federal debt and no one wanting to buy our Treasuries, there’s a rush to prop up the system, possibly through stable coins as a way to sell more debt while adding surveillance. It feels like a desperate Ponzi scheme, masked by rhetoric of strength.
Ultimately, Aaron sees this as a battle for free will against technocracy—a system where elites, using science and technology, aim to control every facet of life via energy credits and social credit systems tied to UN goals. We’re already 90% in a digital prison, with surveillance, programmable money, and a 75,000-page tax code as our social credit system. The push for digital IDs and AI surveillance under recent policies only tightens the grip. I’m left wondering if this is a doomed attempt to control the uncontrollable, but one thing is clear: we must reclaim our autonomy before it’s too late. Join me next time as we explore stable coins further and discuss how to protect ourselves.
The Signal Hour is a livecast hosted by Dr. Chris Martenson every Wednesday at 1 PM Eastern Time. As a seasoned Information Scout, Chris sifts through global events to distinguish meaningful signals from the noise, offering clear insights in an era where mainstream media’s trustworthiness is questioned. The show explores critical topics like political shifts, economic trends, and societal challenges, fostering informed discussions on issues shaping our future. With free speech at its core, The Signal Hour empowers viewers to navigate complex information and engage with a vibrant community seeking truth and resilience.
Click here to go to part 2.