On April 5, 1933, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a controversial executive order - Executive Order 6102, which prohibited the hoarding of gold. This decision caused a huge uproar in American society at the time, and its effects continue to this day.

The ban requires all American citizens to surrender their gold coins and other gold products valued at more than $100 to the Federal Reserve by May 1, 1933. In exchange, the Federal Reserve purchased this gold at a price of $20.67 per ounce. The purpose of this measure was to address the economic crisis at the time, but it also sparked controversy over personal property rights.

The economic situation at that time was extremely severe, to the point that some people shouted on the streets, "Western civilization is finished." During times of economic downturn, the public generally tends to lower risks and pay off debts. Many Americans began to hoard gold in order to protect their wealth from devaluation, which made it difficult for the government to obtain gold resources.

It is worth noting that the gold price at the time of acquisition is vastly different from today. Now, the market price of gold has exceeded $2,400 per ounce, and this significant price difference demonstrates gold's strong potential as a value-preserving tool.

Interestingly, we can see a kind of echo of history in today's cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin, as an emerging digital asset, is quite similar to gold in certain aspects. Many investors view Bitcoin as a tool to combat inflation and preserve value, which aligns with how people viewed gold back in the day.

However, we should also note that while Bitcoin and gold are both considered safe-haven assets, there are significant differences in their nature and risk characteristics. Bitcoin, as a decentralized digital currency, has a much higher volatility in value compared to gold, and also faces regulatory and technological risks.

Looking back at history, we can see how economic policies have profoundly influenced society and individuals. From Roosevelt's gold ban to today's cryptocurrency boom, financial instruments and policies have been evolving, but the fundamental demand for wealth preservation has remained constant. In this rapidly changing world, we need to adopt a more open and cautious attitude towards emerging financial tools and policies.