The Rake Review: May

Stormrake featured at Bitcoin 2025 Las Vegas, with CEO Michael, COO Bisher, and Senior Trader Nick representing on the ground. This year’s conference marked a distinct tonal shift, not just from innovation to adoption, but from ideology to inevitability. The conversations were bigger, the booths flashier, and the guest list packed with influence.

The presence of key political figures — including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Vice President JD Vance — underscored how deeply Bitcoin has entered the political bloodstream. Whether in public speeches or quiet side conversations, it became evident that governments are no longer dismissing Bitcoin. They are quietly figuring out how to own it. As Bisher put it, "Bitcoin adoption isn’t just going to be driven by cypherpunks and tech libertarians. It’s going to involve governments, banks, corporations and legacy institutions."

What’s unfolding is a full-spectrum integration. The idea of Bitcoin as an outsider asset is evaporating. The institutions are no longer coming. They're already here, and they’re building. Yet retail is still in its early innings. "We need to see retail step in before TradFi scoops up all the cheap sats," Bisher added. With Bitcoin now trading above $100K, and still under 7% of the global population having interacted with the network, the message was clear: we’re still early, but not for long.

Amid the fanfare, Lyn Alden delivered what may have been the conference’s defining moment. Her speech methodically dismantled the long-term sustainability of US fiscal policy. The federal government’s debt service costs are ballooning, not shrinking, and every attempt to rein in deficits simply results in more debt issuance. “If they raise rates, they borrow more to pay the interest. If they cut rates, inflation accelerates,” she explained. “There’s no clean way out.”

Her conclusion was stark. The fiat system is in its final chapter. The debt spiral can’t be stopped, only inflated away. And that’s exactly why Bitcoin has to rise. It’s the only major monetary asset that can’t be printed, diluted or manipulated by central banks. As Lyn framed it: “We’ve entered the last phase of the fiat cycle.” Or, in her words: “Nothing stops this train.”

That line landed with weight — not just as a macro thesis, but as a call to prepare. When the train is speeding toward systemic debasement, the smartest move isn’t to ride it out. It’s to step off the tracks and opt into a parallel system that can’t be manipulated.

That perspective resonated across the Stormrake desk. Alden’s session was a wake-up call, backed by data, showing why Bitcoin is not just an opportunity — it’s a necessity. In a world increasingly defined by debt and debanking, Bitcoin’s neutral, borderless, incorruptible nature becomes not just compelling, but critical.

Stormrake’s team gathered dozens of insights from the event floor:

Debanking is a global issue. Everyone’s affected — from retail investors trying to access crypto to high-level political figures. Bitcoin provides a monetary escape hatch.
Utility is scaling fast. As Nick noted, Bitcoin is already being used for everything from loans to services like golf bookings. Real-world application is catching up to ideology.
Amongst altcoin debates, one thing is clear: “BTC is the best. Chuck out the rest.”
The Lightning Network has made serious strides, becoming a frictionless way to send and receive Bitcoin for everyday transactions.
Even among the most prominent Bitcoiners, such as Dorsey and Saylor, there’s still debate: is Bitcoin a store of value or a medium of exchange? Bisher summarised it best: “It’s both, and that’s what makes it so powerful.”

Bitcoin 2025 wasn’t just a celebration. It was an acceleration. The discussions aren’t theoretical anymore. They're tactical, political and strategic. What used to be ideology is now policy. And as we push deeper into the digital monetary age, it’s becoming clear that Bitcoin isn’t disrupting finance anymore. It’s redefining it.

From a historical lens, June has delivered positive returns in 6 of the past 14 years, with an average return of 7.91%. If Bitcoin follows that average, a 7.91% gain from current levels would place it around $113K — back into all-time high territory and re-establishing bullish structure. Momentum above that level could clear the way to test $120K–122K, the next major psychological and structural resistance zone.

But June’s path won’t be defined by charts alone.

This month opens under the weight of intensifying trade disputes. On June 4, new US steel import duties are set to go live, marking a fresh escalation in tariff policy. The US Court of International Trade is also due to respond to the Trump-era Liberation tariffs appeal, with rulings expected between June 4–9. The Trump administration’s response will follow, potentially setting the tone for economic policy for the rest of the year — and possibly the election cycle.

Trump’s camp has already made it clear: if blocked, they’ll seek alternative channels to implement their trade agenda. This is less about specific policy details and more about broader uncertainty — a climate where risk assets like Bitcoin often thrive or dive, depending on the market’s risk appetite.

Meanwhile, the growing rift with China is expected to dominate the macro narrative into mid-month. Any escalation in tariffs or retaliatory rhetoric could inject volatility across global markets.

June stands at a crossroads. Technically, Bitcoin is at risk of deeper correction, but it remains within reach of its recent highs. The key structural zone between $98K and $101K will be crucial — not just for short-term support, but for preserving the broader uptrend into the second half of the year.

Macro headwinds, including intensifying trade disputes and rising fiscal pressure, continue to shape the backdrop. The path from here may not be smooth — but the long-term direction of travel remains unchanged.

For long-term investors, these moments are less about market timing and more about strategic positioning. Pullbacks are not problems — they’re opportunities. Periods of weakness offer the chance to strengthen your allocation, reaffirm your thesis, and continue accumulating ahead of the next leg higher.

Conviction matters more than precision. The narrative is still unfolding — but the case for Bitcoin has never been clearer.

For the first time ever, the United States has lost its last remaining triple-A credit rating, with Moody’s citing its spiralling $37 trillion debt load and rising interest obligations. The downgrade reflects growing concern over Washington’s deteriorating fiscal discipline, noting that US debt levels are now significantly higher than those of similarly rated sovereigns. The implications are serious — higher borrowing costs for the government, increased rates across credit markets, and further strain on an already indebted global system. It’s another domino in the broader macro picture that reinforces why scarce, non-sovereign assets like Bitcoin continue to gain relevance.

May wasn’t just about price discovery — it also marked a major leap forward in institutional Bitcoin adoption. Coinbase officially joined the S&P 500, becoming the first cryptocurrency company ever to be listed in the index. This means that every fund tracking the S&P now has indirect exposure to crypto, whether they realise it or not.

At the same time, corporates continued to stack. Gamestop disclosed a $500 million Bitcoin purchase, while Trump Media & Technology Group Corp announced plans to accumulate $2.5 billion worth. These balance sheet moves mirror a broader trend: sovereign and corporate treasuries are treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. With the UAE and Pakistan also stepping in to establish national Bitcoin reserves, the message is clear — you're not bullish enough.

In a groundbreaking legal case, a Victorian magistrate challenged Bitcoin’s classification as property under Australian tax law, arguing instead that Bitcoin should be treated as money. Since a 2014 ruling, Bitcoin has been subject to capital gains tax (CGT) in Australia, similar to property. However, if Bitcoin were officially recognised as a foreign currency or legal tender, CGT would no longer apply — just as it doesn’t when converting between foreign fiat currencies. While the judge doesn’t have the authority to change legislation, the case has opened the door to a broader regulatory debate. It could eventually force higher courts — and lawmakers — to reconsider Bitcoin’s legal and financial status within Australia’s tax system.

'Nothing Stops This Train' w/ Lyn Alden | Bitcoin 2025

The U.S. government is now operating inside a pressure cooker of its own making.

As of May, national debt has surged past $37 trillion, with interest payments now exceeding $1 trillion annually — more than defence or Medicare. The debt-to-GDP ratio has breached 133%, and the latest spending bills are set to expand deficits even further in the years ahead. These figures aren’t just big — they’re systemically unsustainable.

As Lyn Alden made clear at Bitcoin 2025, the US is no longer managing debt — it’s managing optics. The economic machine now runs on borrowed time and borrowed money. Every option leads back to the same outcome: a larger debt pile, and increasing dependence on currency debasement to keep the machine running.

“Raise interest rates and the government borrows more to cover the cost. Cut rates and inflation takes over. Either way, debt continues growing.” — Lyn Alden

The US has made its choice — austerity is off the table. Instead of confronting the core issue, policymakers are focused on rigging demand for Treasuries and suppressing long-term yields to avoid a debt servicing crisis. Among the strategies being pursued:

Adjusting Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) rules to force banks to hold more Treasuries.
Proposing legislation that requires stablecoin issuers to back tokens with US government debt.
Promoting narratives that GDP can outpace debt growth — not through productivity, but through inflation-driven nominal gains.

In short, they're not solving the problem — they're masking it. The result is a deliberate currency debasement strategy, dressed up as financial engineering.

This macro backdrop is exactly what Bitcoin was designed for.

As trust in traditional monetary policy erodes, capital begins seeking alternatives. Bitcoin offers a monetary system outside of government control, one that cannot be inflated away or manipulated to serve political agendas. It is decentralised, scarce, and transparent — everything the fiat system increasingly is not.

Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset. It’s becoming a strategic allocation for institutions, corporations, and sovereigns alike. Its function is not just to grow wealth, but to preserve it — especially in a world where fiat assets guarantee long-term real losses.

“Bitcoin is doing what bonds used to do — protecting capital in an age of monetary dysfunction.”

Investors anchored to traditional assets — government bonds, cash deposits, unhedged real estate — are facing a new reality: their value is eroding in real terms. Monetary policy is no longer aimed at stability. It’s aimed at survival.

Smart capital is already rotating — not because of panic, but because of structural logic. When trust in fiat wavers and inflation eats at purchasing power, capital naturally moves into assets that are neutral, scarce and outside the system.

At Stormrake, our mission is simple: to help people escape the failing fiat system and transition into a sound, sovereign monetary future through Bitcoin.

In a world burdened by unsustainable debt, policy dysfunction, and ongoing currency debasement, Bitcoin isn’t just an asset — it’s a way out. But accessing it with security, confidence, and strategy isn’t always easy. That’s where we come in.

We offer individuals, SMSFs, trusts, and corporate entities a direct avenue to gain Bitcoin exposure — with seamless execution, deep liquidity, and access to institutional-grade custody. Whether you're allocating for the first time or building on an existing position, Stormrake is built to serve serious investors with precision and security.

Bitcoin offers an escape — but more importantly, it offers a path forward. A chance to opt into a better system.

The system is shifting. The train is moving. Are you going to stay on — or step off and choose something better?

Written by Alexandar Artis

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