James Rickards believes the recent drop in gold is just a normal pullback and actually a good buying opportunity. He predicts gold prices could surge to $10,000 by the end of 2026, supported by factors like central banks continuing to buy gold, declining trust in dollar assets, geopolitical risks, and inflationary pressures. At the same time, he warns that the next financial crisis could be even more severe than 2008, with gold, cash, treasury bonds, and resource-based assets offering better defensive value.