Bridgewater Fund founder Ray Dalio recently made a major prediction—by 2026, what you should be most worried about isn't a stock market crash, but the silent evaporation of your money.

**The real hidden danger is the purchasing power of currency**

It sounds a bit scary, but the logic is actually simple. In the past two years, central banks around the world have been flooding the market aggressively, and the printing presses just can't stop. The result? The same amount of money buys fewer and fewer goods. This isn't an illusion; ordinary people can feel it firsthand—what used to be enough for a good meal now barely makes do. The ghost of inflation hasn't fully disappeared, and a new round of money devaluation has already begun.

**Gold's desperate counterattack in 2025**

While central banks continue to flood the market, gold is soaring. The data is clear—by 2025, gold will outperform the US stock market by 30 percentage points. The big players have sensed the risk aversion and are pouring money into gold. As confidence in the dollar loosens and geopolitical tensions persist, gold has become the most stable "safe haven." But don't ignore the risks—gold can also be a roller coaster; today's king might face cold shoulders tomorrow. In the long run, it still depends on how central banks play their cards.

**Can cryptocurrencies seize this opportunity?**

Bitcoin has been hyped as "digital gold," and the logic sounds reasonable—during inflation, digital assets preserve value. But the problem is, BTC's volatility can scare you half to death. It was rising yesterday, and today it might plunge. Those looking to buy the dip should be mentally prepared to get caught in a trap. Plus, regulation is unpredictable—who knows when a black swan event might strike?

**Is Dalio's prediction necessarily correct?**

Honestly, the "history repeats" theory sounds clever, but will inflation really replay the script of the 20th century? Not necessarily. The economic environment has changed, and there are more policy tools now. The similarities to history might be exaggerated. While gold has performed well, chasing the rally can easily turn into standing guard. Cryptocurrencies are a double-edged sword—offering opportunities but also traps.

**The most practical approach**

Instead of choosing to go all-in on a single asset, diversify your portfolio. Properly allocate hard assets (gold, USD), keep some high-risk assets (cryptos, growth stocks), and adjust flexibly according to market rhythm. The key is to hold your wallet steady until 2026—don't put all your chips in one basket.