Normal people know about finance and marketing as much as the system wants them to know. It is only when one deep dives into what the small letters at the bottom say, to find out the size of the charade we are living in.
For the uninitiatied, soda brands in the supermarket aisle are competing against each other, fast food restaurants are enemies, and even dog food makes draw a line between each other.
But this is all a facade.
Deep down, back there in the financial side of things, where the pompous stock traders dwell and the politicians play around, two entities silently exert unparalleled influence over the world's economic and sociopolitical landscape. You might think that I'm talking about Apple and Google, or Meta (Facebook) and Amazon, but these are just small kids playing in the backyard of the adults that own the house, the block, and the city.
If you are into Cryptocurrency you might have heard these names as of late, not because they want you to know they exist, but because they cannot help but to be named in the context of the Bitcoin ETF approval back in January 11. These immensely powerful entities are BLACKROCK and VANGUARD. With over 15 trillion dollars in assets under management, these investment behemoths wield financial clout enough to steer the ship entire world.
Let me introduce you to Balckrock's and Vanguard's power:
Financial Implications:
BlackRock and Vanguard's collective control of more than 17 Trillion dollars allows them to do whatever they want without consequences, including dictating market trends and influencing corporate decisions in case they don't own the companies or consortiums they are lobbying against. They can easily affect any stock price and if they wanted to, they could influence the stability of the global economy.
Economic Implications:
The influence of these two behemoths extends far beyond the financial sector; these giants are the predominant shareholders in most of the world's most influential companies across diverse industries. From pharmaceuticals and transport to banking and media, their collective ownership spans the breadth of the global economy, consolidating power and shaping economic policies.
Sociopolitical Implications:
The concentration of power in the hands of BlackRock and Vanguard raises concerns about the democratic process. With such extensive control over major corporations, they effectively become puppeteers, pulling the strings that govern society's key pillars. This concentrated influence can lead to a distortion of societal values and priorities, potentially sidelining the needs and aspirations of the general population.
Political Implications:
The intertwined nature of BlackRock and Vanguard's interests poses a unique challenge to political systems worldwide. As each entity is the largest shareholder in the other, their fortunes are inextricably linked. This symbiotic relationship creates an intricate web of influence that can sway political decisions, raising questions about the independence and integrity of governance.
Is Crypto the solution?
It's at least a way of putting up a fight, although I'm not so sure anymore since we opened the floodgates for them with the recent approval of the Bitcoin ETF. But if you think about it, crypto is a disruptive force capable of challenging the status quo. Decentralized and inherently resistant to manipulation by a few entities, Bitcoin offers a transparent and trustless alternative. The blockchain technology that underlies cryptocurrencies ensures that power is distributed among a network of participants, eliminating the need for intermediaries like BlackRock and Vanguard.
To combat the massive control that BlackRock and Vanguard have over us, the system, the government, the financial institutions and pretty much everyone on earth, the solution is to embrace cryptocurrency, moving towards a more decentralized and equitable financial future. By shifting away from traditional centralized systems, individuals regain control over their financial assets, fostering a more democratic and inclusive global economy.