Hugh Hendry, the esteemed Scottish hedge fund manager and founder of Eclectica Asset Management, has a long and successful history in the investment world. Having been awarded Europe’s Best Absolute Return Fund Manager in 2009, Hendry’s insights are certainly worth considering.

In a recent podcast discussing the ongoing banking crisis that’s rattling the markets, Hendry shared a chilling prediction. He suggested that new regulations could be implemented, potentially restricting people from withdrawing their money from banks.

Hendry stated, “My fear — and I do not say this lightly — given the present peril with regard to the magnitude of losses on security portfolios held within predominantly the regional banks, you have to cast your mind back to 1934 and the Gold Reserve Act.” He went on to express his concern that a federal or treasury rule could be enacted, preventing individuals from accessing their funds in the banking sector for a period of time, such as 180 days.

The Gold Reserve Act of 1934, which Hendry referenced, was a notable piece of legislation that transferred ownership of all monetary gold held by individuals and corporations to the U.S. Treasury. In return, people received currency that diminished the value of their gold holdings.

The current banking crisis, exacerbated by the Federal Reserve’s persistent interest rate hikes, began with the collapse of Signature Valley Bank in March. More recently, First Republic became the latest casualty, falling on May 1st.

While no one can predict the future with certainty, Hugh Hendry’s thought-provoking speculation serves as a reminder to remain vigilant in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the financial world.