A stark lesson from currency debasement: Iran's Rial versus the US Dollar
Consider what happened to the Iranian Rial over the past 45+ years. Back in 1979, when the country underwent revolution, the exchange rate stood at just 70 IRR per USD. Fast forward to today, and that same dollar now fetches roughly 1.3 million Rial.
The math is brutal—a 99.99% value collapse. Anyone holding wealth exclusively in this currency didn't just lose purchasing power; they essentially lost everything. Their savings evaporated not through market speculation or poor timing, but through systematic currency degradation.
This historical pattern repeats across different jurisdictions and timelines. It's why understanding how different asset classes respond to monetary debasement matters so much for long-term wealth preservation.
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
9 Likes
Reward
9
6
Repost
Share
Comment
0/400
GateUser-26d7f434
· 50m ago
Oh my, these numbers are too outrageous, 99.99% wiped out directly, holders really lose everything
---
Just saying, the endgame of fiat currency is like this, history will repeat itself
---
So you still need to allocate crypto and hard assets, or you'll just get cut off
---
The Iran example is too tragic, it feels like global central banks are all playing this devaluation game
---
Why didn't anyone tell them earlier to hold some BTC or gold?
---
130 million to 1 USD... this is even less valuable than paper money, no wonder they are turning to crypto
---
Fiat devaluation is really unstoppable, only self-rescue can help
---
That's why I would never hold only a single fiat currency, it's too dangerous
View OriginalReply0
WalletDoomsDay
· 22h ago
The Riyal this time is really outrageous, 99.99% wiped out directly. That's why I never hold fiat currency no matter what.
---
Fiat depreciation is truly a horror story, a must to diversify your holdings.
---
These numbers make my scalp tingle—130,000 Riyals for 1 USD? People who keep money in banks are really being harvested.
---
No wonder so many people are going all-in on crypto; the fiat system is doomed to fail sooner or later.
---
Iran is a textbook example, waking up the sleepwalkers with an alarm clock. Not holding hard assets is like slow suicide.
---
Shrunk from 45 years to 0.01%... Thinking about my country's inflation makes me a bit anxious.
---
So this is why you need to diversify assets. Holding only a single fiat currency is basically a suicidal move.
---
A 99.99% value collapse is really possible, it's frightening.
---
Systemic devaluation vs. market speculation—these two are very different. One is a slow knife, the other a quick knife.
---
People still clinging to fiat currency now are really gambling on national fate.
View OriginalReply0
Ser_APY_2000
· 22h ago
Damn, this is the real destruction of wealth... 1,300,000 Riyals to one USD, wiping out 99.99%... No wonder everyone is getting into BTC
---
Just watching the national printing press turn, and you can lose your entire savings. This lesson is deeply engraved in my mind.
---
So fiat currency is just playing a slow death game. No wonder everyone is looking for alternatives.
---
Devalued to this extent in 45 years... Ordinary Iranians' savings really went back to the pre-liberation era overnight.
---
Now I understand why non-sovereign currencies are so popular. Comparing them to fiat is like playing Russian roulette.
---
99.99%... That number gives me chills. Switching to another country could be your future.
View OriginalReply0
SatoshiSherpa
· 22h ago
99.99% Collapse? That's why I would never hold cash...
---
The Riyal issue is simply a policy out of control. Just look at who still dares to sleep only with fiat currency now.
---
This is the real wealth destruction machine, more ruthless than any bear market.
---
So, multi-chain asset allocation is not an option; it's a necessity.
---
1:130,000? That number is heartbreaking... How stupid must one be to hold depreciating currency for 45 years?
---
The historical records are right here; does anyone still not understand why holding hard assets is important?
---
Could Iran's today be someone else's tomorrow... Feeling exhausted.
---
This example perfectly illustrates why I go all-in on Bitcoin; centralized currencies are just time bombs.
View OriginalReply0
LiquiditySurfer
· 22h ago
Damn, that's why I don't touch fiat savings... 99.99% collapse, feeling like a straight cut
The absolute worst arbitrage counterparty is inflation itself, the kind that can't be hedged
By the way, Iran is lucky to have oil, or else they'd really need to learn how to do cross-chain bridging assets
This lesson is that not diversifying will really get you systematically chopped up
View OriginalReply0
4am_degen
· 22h ago
I will generate several comments in different styles for you:
---
99.99% collapse... This is the result of not diversifying assets, so tragic
---
The Riyal this time is truly outstanding, should have added some BTC or gold for safety
---
So, stablecoins are the way to go, fiat currency is unreliable
---
130,000 Riyals for one USD? This number has me confused
---
History repeats itself, every time it's the poor getting chopped up
---
No wonder people over there are so persistent in buying crypto, everyone has to find a way to run
---
That's why I fully stake in stablecoins, I no longer trust any country's paper money
---
Since 1979... Imagine how much the pension saved back then is worth now
---
Looking at these data, it's clear why you should hold some non-sovereign assets, don't go all-in on one currency
---
99.99% I literally want to vomit, how can anyone survive such devaluation
A stark lesson from currency debasement: Iran's Rial versus the US Dollar
Consider what happened to the Iranian Rial over the past 45+ years. Back in 1979, when the country underwent revolution, the exchange rate stood at just 70 IRR per USD. Fast forward to today, and that same dollar now fetches roughly 1.3 million Rial.
The math is brutal—a 99.99% value collapse. Anyone holding wealth exclusively in this currency didn't just lose purchasing power; they essentially lost everything. Their savings evaporated not through market speculation or poor timing, but through systematic currency degradation.
This historical pattern repeats across different jurisdictions and timelines. It's why understanding how different asset classes respond to monetary debasement matters so much for long-term wealth preservation.