A former Bank of England analyst has warned that a potential disclosure of alien life by the US government could trigger a Bitcoin rush and lead to widespread financial instability. Helen McCaw, who previously worked in financial security at the BoE, believes that such an event could cause "ontological shock" among the general public, leading to extreme price volatility in financial markets.
According to prediction market Polymarket, the odds of alien disclosure before 2027 are currently sitting at 12%, albeit on low trading volume. McCaw's concerns are not entirely unfounded, given that high-level government officials have been speaking out about UFOs in recent years, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
In a letter to the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, McCaw outlined several potential scenarios for what could happen if alien life is disclosed. One possibility is that people would seek refuge in digital currencies like Bitcoin, as traditional power structures lose trust. In this scenario, McCaw suggests that there could be a rush to acquire Bitcoin as a safe haven asset.
However, not all experts are convinced that this will happen. Some argue that Bitcoin's monetary policy and security mechanisms, such as its difficulty adjustment algorithm, make it less vulnerable to attacks or devaluations due to space-based mining projects. Additionally, while quantum computers do pose a threat to Bitcoin's security, developers are already working on improvement proposals.
Meanwhile, gold is seen as an alternative safe-haven asset. However, some experts believe that the potential for new space-faring technologies could lead to a massive increase in supply, potentially devaluing gold. The Winklevoss twins have previously argued this point, and it's worth noting that NASA did launch a research mission to a metal-rich asteroid in 2023.
Overall, while the prospect of alien disclosure is still largely speculative, experts like McCaw are taking it seriously and warning about potential financial instability. Whether or not Bitcoin ends up being a safe haven asset remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this story has sparked an interesting debate among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and experts alike.
According to prediction market Polymarket, the odds of alien disclosure before 2027 are currently sitting at 12%, albeit on low trading volume. McCaw's concerns are not entirely unfounded, given that high-level government officials have been speaking out about UFOs in recent years, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
In a letter to the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, McCaw outlined several potential scenarios for what could happen if alien life is disclosed. One possibility is that people would seek refuge in digital currencies like Bitcoin, as traditional power structures lose trust. In this scenario, McCaw suggests that there could be a rush to acquire Bitcoin as a safe haven asset.
However, not all experts are convinced that this will happen. Some argue that Bitcoin's monetary policy and security mechanisms, such as its difficulty adjustment algorithm, make it less vulnerable to attacks or devaluations due to space-based mining projects. Additionally, while quantum computers do pose a threat to Bitcoin's security, developers are already working on improvement proposals.
Meanwhile, gold is seen as an alternative safe-haven asset. However, some experts believe that the potential for new space-faring technologies could lead to a massive increase in supply, potentially devaluing gold. The Winklevoss twins have previously argued this point, and it's worth noting that NASA did launch a research mission to a metal-rich asteroid in 2023.
Overall, while the prospect of alien disclosure is still largely speculative, experts like McCaw are taking it seriously and warning about potential financial instability. Whether or not Bitcoin ends up being a safe haven asset remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this story has sparked an interesting debate among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and experts alike.