Podcast Summary: Rich Dad Radio Show

Episode: Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin: What Happens When There's Nothing Left to Buy

Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Robert Kiyosaki
Guests: Jim Clark (Republic Monetary Exchange), Damon Jones

Episode Overview

This episode explores the ongoing debate between traditional assets like gold and silver versus emerging digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Robert Kiyosaki, joined by precious metals experts Jim Clark and Damon Jones, dives deep into how these instruments function as stores of value, hedges against monetary manipulation, and tools for financial sovereignty in an environment of unprecedented money printing, inflation, and technological change. The show challenges conventional wisdom from academia and traditional finance, with a practical, real-world lens honed by decades of experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backgrounds of the Guests and the Precious Metals Market

• Damon Jones: Began as a foreign currency (FX) trader, then spent 14 years as a stockbroker always recommending precious metals as "wealth insurance." Currently at Republic Monetary Exchange.
  • Quote: "I still recommended precious metals. I felt they were an important part of the wealth insurance part of your portfolio." (04:00)
• Jim Clark: Over 52 years in precious metals, involved in key historical events (notably the Hunt Brothers silver saga), and runs Republic Monetary Exchange in Phoenix.
  • Quote: “I've seen the gold and silver markets all over the map. ... I was involved with selling [the Hunt brothers] about a quarter of a billion dollars of the silver that they purchased back in 1979.” (04:35)

2. The Hunt Brothers and Silver Market Manipulation

• History: Hunt brothers tried to corner the silver market in the late ‘70s, driving prices from $5 to $50 per ounce before regulatory action led to a collapse back to $10.
  • Jim Clark: “They exercised Rule 7, which allowed them to restrict the Hunt brothers from buying any more silver they could only sell. ... The trade houses, the hedge funds, the various institutions that trade precious metals, they were bailed out of their short positions… and the Hunt brothers lost one to $2 billion.” (06:49, 08:34)
• Modern Parallels: JP Morgan fined $900 million for 'spoofing' silver markets, continuing issues with paper silver (SLV) as a "fake" instrument.
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “J.P. Morgan was manipulating the price of silver. And ... they're the same guys still selling the SLV, which is fake silver, paper silver.” (11:39)

3. Industrial and Strategic Value of Silver

• Silver is increasingly essential for technology (solar, batteries, iPhones, medical devices), not just a store of value.
• China imposing an export ban on silver from Jan 1st, 2026, to secure industrial supply, especially for high-tech batteries (BYD introducing silver solid-state batteries).
  • Damon Jones: “Physical silver is just going up higher and higher for industrial purposes. ... They need to tie up that silver for their critical components. ... Literally thousands of companies that need silver.” (21:07, 22:37)
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “Silver is such an essential metal for industry versus gold... the more as we go to AI, artificial intelligence, silver goes up in value, yet the price is suppressed.” (11:33)

4. Inflation, Money Printing, and the Case Against Fiat Currency

• US dollar termed “fake money,” losing value due to continuous money printing ($38T in debt and counting).
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “Savers were losers. ... You're not saving money today, you're saving fake money, the US dollar.” (13:47)
  • Jim Clark: “If the government weren't printing up so many Federal Reserve notes ... we wouldn't have the situation that we're in today.” (12:19)
• Historical context: Gresham's Law—bad money drives out good. Shift from silver to copper in coinage post-1964 cited as the start of monetary debasement.

5. Gold, Silver, Bitcoin, and Crypto: Comparative Strengths and Weaknesses

• Physical Assets (Gold/Silver):
  • Tangible, intrinsic value, no counterparty risk, cannot be printed.
  • Downsides: Storage and security limitations (vaults, insurance).
  • Jim Clark: “It’s an asset that has intrinsic value within its own metal content, and it never goes to zero.” (24:00)
• Cryptos (Bitcoin/Ethereum):
  • Portability, digital storage, no reliance on state currencies.
  • Bitcoin capped at 21 million units; gold and silver extraction is finite but requires energy and labor.
  • Damon Jones: “Bitcoin does not pay a dividend. Bitcoin has no cash flow. Ultimately ... the present value of bitcoin ... would be zero because there's no cash flow.” (29:47)
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “With bitcoin, you have to know when to buy and when to sell. And with gold and silver, I hold on forever.” (34:09)

6. The Rise of Asset-Backed Cryptos and Risks of Stablecoins

• Prospects for cryptos backed by real assets (gold, silver, soybeans) using technologies like Ethereum/blockchain.
• Warnings about potential frauds and upcoming scandals in the stablecoin sector.
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “Ethereum is going to be big time. ... But the fraud has just begun. So that's why I'd rather have gold and silver, even with storage problems.” (30:50)

7. Counterparty Risk and True Asset Ownership

• Fundamental difference: Gold and silver “in your hand” carry no counterparty risk, unlike stocks, bonds, or even digital assets, which rely on issuers or system access.
  • Damon Jones: “With gold and silver, ... it is independent of another person's promise. Nobody has to make a promise for gold to have value.” (32:13)

8. Outlook for Precious Metals and Digital Assets

• Both Jim and Damon see increased demand and higher prices for gold and silver, potentially scarcity (“availability, not price, becomes the question”).
• Kiyosaki owns all: gold, silver, bitcoin, Ethereum; advocates diversification and learning how to time crypto trades.
  • Robert Kiyosaki: “It'll always be money. ... It’s about availability: Can you still get it at any price?” (34:52)
  • Jim Clark: “Cryptocurrencies and gold and silver are very compatible because ... people buy them because they don't trust the currency of the realm.” (34:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fiat Currency and Savers:

  “Savers were losers. ... You're not saving money today, you're saving fake money, the US dollar.”
  —Robert Kiyosaki (13:47)

• On Government and Wall Street Manipulation:

  “The Hunt Bros. were doing it illegally, but the US Government came after him and did it illegally.”
  —Robert Kiyosaki (06:01)

• On Silver's Industrial Role:

  “Silver allows everything to function, whether it's your semiconductors, whether it's your solar panels, electricity, you need solar.”
  —Damon Jones (20:54)

• On Counterparty Risk:

  “With gold and silver, ... it is independent of another person's promise. Nobody has to make a promise for gold to have value.”
  —Damon Jones (32:13)

• On Bitcoin vs. Gold/Silver:

  “With bitcoin, you have to know when to buy and when to sell. And with gold and silver, I hold on forever.”
  —Robert Kiyosaki (34:09)

• On Diversification:

  “I own all of it. ... It's about availability: Can you still get it at any price?”
  —Robert Kiyosaki (34:52)

• On Central Banks’ Behavior:

  “Central banks are dumping bonds to buy gold. ... Only a loser would think [bonds are safe].”
  —Robert Kiyosaki (32:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introductions & Guest Backgrounds — 03:16–05:52
• The Hunt Brothers and Market Manipulation — 05:52–10:04
• Silver’s Strategic and Industrial Role — 10:04–14:00; 20:16–23:00
• Fiat Money, Inflation & Wealth Erosion — 13:47–15:46
• Pros & Cons of Precious Metals vs. Crypto — 24:00–29:47
• Asset-Backed Crypto and Stablecoin Risks — 29:47–32:00
• Counterparty Risk Explained — 32:13–33:19
• Final Thoughts & Diversification — 34:09–36:37

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Gold and silver remain vital as hedges against inflation, counterparty risk, and government currency devaluation; silver’s industrial demand is set to soar due to technology.
• Bitcoin and crypto can offer portability and independence but require skillful timing and carry unique risks, especially with the proliferation of "fiat cryptos" versus asset-backed tokens.
• Diversification and self-education are key: Don’t blindly save in fiat. Own real assets, learn how to leverage crypto prudently, and always choose tools that work for your circumstance.
• Parental advice: Teach kids about real money, financial sovereignty, and not just to "work hard, save money, and pay taxes"—break free from the rat race.

Relevant Web Resources:

• Republic Monetary Exchange
• RealMoneyForFreePeople.com (Jim Clark’s book offer)