The Bank of England has been advised to prepare for a possible financial crisis if alien life is officially confirmed, after a former senior analyst warned that such a revelation could cause severe instability across global markets.
Helen McCaw, a former financial security expert at the Bank of England, wrote to governor Andrew Bailey arguing that disclosure by the US government about non-human intelligence could trigger widespread panic or euphoria among investors. She warned that policymakers and central banks can no longer dismiss the issue, especially as US officials signal that further information may soon emerge.
McCaw said confirmation could lead to bank failures, abrupt asset repricing, and a collapse in confidence in existing economic models. She referenced ongoing US declassification efforts related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, noting that proof of non-human origin would force markets to confront the existence of a potentially more advanced intelligence with unknown intentions.
She cautioned that such news could cause “ontological shock,” driving extreme market volatility as investors struggle to value assets using familiar frameworks. While capital might initially flow into traditional safe havens like gold or government bonds, McCaw warned that even these could be destabilized if speculation about advanced space technologies undermines assumptions about scarcity.
The Bank of England has not publicly responded to her letter.