American household debt just hit a new ceiling: $18.4 trillion. Credit card balances are climbing faster than ever, signaling tighter household finances across the board. When consumer debt reaches this level, it typically compresses discretionary spending and shifts investor psychology—especially for risk assets like crypto. Higher debt loads often correlate with increased volatility in markets as households reassess their portfolios. For those tracking macro trends, this data point matters: it suggests potential economic pressure that could reshape how money flows into and out of digital assets over the next cycle.