Macro Strategist says Bitcoin is a ‘life raft’ as U.S. debt soars past 100% of GDP

Veteran macro strategist Raoul Pal has issued a stark warning about the future of fiat currencies, suggesting that the U.S. debt burden, aging demographics, and central bank interventions are setting the stage for long-term currency debasement and positioning Bitcoin (BTC) as the ultimate hedge.

Pal, founder of Global Macro Investor and Real Vision, shared two key macroeconomic charts that he believes are being largely overlooked. “These charts are everything,” he stated, arguing that demographics, not fiscal policy, are the true driver of sovereign debt.

The first chart compares the U.S. labor force participation rate with U.S. government debt as a percentage of GDP (inverted). Since 2002, participation has steadily declined while debt has surged, a trend that accelerated sharply after the 2008 financial crisis and again in 2020.

“Demographics is the KEY driver of debt,” Pal emphasized, noting that an aging workforce means fewer contributors to economic output and more reliance on government spending.

U.S. government debt and net liquidity

The second chart shows the tight correlation between U.S. government debt and net liquidity from the Federal Reserve.

According to Pal, once debt surpasses 100% of GDP, organic economic growth is no longer sufficient to service interest payments. The gap is then covered by monetary printing “debasing the currency and lowering the denominator,” in his words.

Against this backdrop, Bitcoin emerges as the primary asset capable of absorbing the impact. “Crypto (mainly Bitcoin) is the life raft as it not only offsets the annual 8% debasement but also gains value due to adoption effects,” Pal said.

His conclusion is unambiguous: while traditional investors may focus on short-term policy moves or rate cycles, the bigger story lies in demographics and debt. “It’s all demographics. It always has been.”

Featured image via Shutterstcok

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