The Man Who Cried “End the Fed”

Ron Paul, the man with enough gumption to go against the multi-trillion dollar machine of the Federal Reserve, started ringing alarm bells back in the 1970s. His claim? The manipulation of money supply was the greatest monopolistic power since sliced bread—or, more fittingly, like a kid in a candy store. This didn’t exactly win him a fan club among other politicians, who offered silence as their support.

A Four-Decade Crusader

Despite being brushed off like yesterday’s news, Paul was re-elected to Congress repeatedly for a whopping 40 years, which might raise a few eyebrows. He wasn’t just any politician; he was the anti-Fed evangelist, preaching against inflation, fractional-reserve lending, and whatever else slipped out of the Fed’s loathsome bag of tricks. Let’s just say, he was the original disruptorlong before tech bros were throwing around buzzwords.

Gold or Bust

In true Austrian economics fashion, Paul believed that the antidote to the monetary madness of the Fed was to return to the tried-and-true gold and silver coins. “End the Fed” wasn’t just a cute catchphrase; it was the title of his best-selling book during his 2008 and 2012 presidential runs, resulting in more than a few raised brows and even eye-rolls among mainstream economists.

The Birth of a New Currency

All the while, the idea of alternative currencies started to bubble up among Paul’s followers like a well-kept craft beer recipe. They wanted something, anything, to bypass the Fed—like an exclusive club that required a secret handshake. And then came Bitcoin, crashing the party like that one friend who shows up uninvited but makes things way more interesting.

On the Fence About Bitcoin

In early 2013, when the Bitcoin buzz reached his ears, Paul was more of a “wait and see” kind of guy. His initial reaction? “If I can’t put it in my pocket, I have reservations,” which sounds exceptionally wise—or maybe just old-fashioned. Onlookers had mixed reactions: some wanted him deep-dived back into the world of gold, while others believed he’d eventually warm up to the crypto craze.

A Change of Heart

Fast forward to an illuminating interview series, and the man himself revealed he’d done his homework. With Coin.mx as his co-star, Paul showcased a newfound understanding of Bitcoin and its implications for the so-called “sound money” movement he helped spark. It seems the lesson learned here is profound: governments may not fix our issues, but markets, with all their imperfections, can absolutely create alternatives.