1. Over the past 15–20 years, until China’s rapid rise in technology, global economic growth was largely driven by the combination of low-cost oil from the Middle East and China’s inexpensive, high-capacity labor force. This synergy created a period of relative prosperity and stability in the world economy. Today, however, the U.S.–China rivalry has expanded beyond trade and technology, evolving into a strategic power struggle that is reshaping the global monetary system. It appears that the United States, in order to maintain its financial dominance and keep its debt cycle sustainable, is aiming to establish a new monetary infrastructure through cryptocurrencies.