Check out how $100 put in bank deposits or S&P500 have done versus gold over the last 50 years. You will find that these do not generate real returns when measured against sound currency either.

Usually, yes. But the government can still tank the economy in all sorts of ways. It happens more frequently in some countries than others, but it can happen anywhere.

Indeed. The crypto crowd seems to assume that the options for your savings are cash or bank deposits, or crypto. That's nonsense. A balanced portfolio of stocks (with some bonds maybe to reduce vol and improve your Sharpe Ratio) handily beats inflation. Heck, even bonds alone have mostly had positive real yields.

This also supports and funds the productive economy, unlike crypto.