USD Value Over Time — A Reality Check
$1 Is Not Always the Same $1. Although the numerical value of USD remains $1, its real purchasing power declines over time due to inflation.
1USD: 2009 vs Today (2025)
| Metric | 2009 USD | 2025 USD (Now) |
|---|---|---|
| Face Value | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Purchasing Power | High | Significantly Lower |
| Inflation Effect | Minimal | Severe (15+ years) |
| Real Value (2009 terms) | $1.00 | ~$0.55–$0.65 |
| Money Supply | Limited growth | Massive expansion |
| Scarcity | Relatively higher | Much lower |
| Long-term holding result | Preserved value | Value erosion |
Conclusion
$1 today buys 35–45% less than it did in 2009.
Inflation Explained (Simple)
Governments can print more USD
Central banks increase money supply
Printing increases supply
More dollars chasing same goods
Increased supply reduces purchasing power
Each dollar buys less
This creates silent dilution of savings
Your stored work loses value
"Inflation is not visible daily — but devastating over decades."
USD vs Bitcoin (Why History Matters)
| Feature | USD | Bitcoin |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Old system | 2009 |
| Supply | Unlimited | Fixed (21M) |
| Inflation | Guaranteed | Reduced over time |
| Long-term value | Declining | Increasing |
| Control | Central banks | Decentralized |
Key Insight
- USD is stable in number, unstable in value.
- Bitcoin is volatile in number, stable in scarcity.
Why Stablecoins Don't Solve This
Stablecoins like USDT are useful for trading, but they are pegged to USD. This means they inherit USD's inflation problem.
- Are pegged to USD 1:1
- Inherit USD inflation completely
- Preserve price ($1), not value (purchasing power)
| Asset | Price Stability | Value Preservation |
|---|---|---|
| USD | ||
| USDT | ||
| Bitcoin | (short-term) | (long-term) |
The Core Problem
Holding USD or Stablecoins long-term means:
Why B21 Exists
B21 is designed to address time-based value loss.
B21 Principles
Design Philosophy
B21 is not designed to "stay at $1"
B21 is designed to retain and grow value over time
"$1 in 2009 is not $1 today."
"Price stability is not value stability."
"Inflation is a hidden tax on time."
"Scarcity preserves value. Printing destroys it."