The global debt crisis and the response from major economies are sparking intense debate.

Co-host of Altcoin Daily, Austin Arnold, and Arthur Hayes, Chief Investment Officer at Maelstrom, discuss the soaring debt levels, the sustainability of economic growth, and the shifting policies that could redefine financial markets.

Hayes outlines the challenges facing governments, especially the U.S., as they navigate high debt-to-GDP ratios and grapple with inflationary pressures stemming from recent fiscal stimulus policies.

"The total stock of debt to GDP is the real metric here," Hayes explains, highlighting the primary spending areas for the U.S. government, such as healthcare, defense, and debt interest, which are all outpacing economic growth. He observes, “The economy is growing slower than the federal government’s spending, and that’s the problem.”

Hayes contrasts recent U.S. policies, describing how the 2020–2022 stimulus checks targeted individuals directly rather than financial assets, which he terms "QE (quantitative easing) for poor people." This approach, he notes, was distinct from past quantitative easing, which largely benefited asset holders. "People spent it all," he says, pointing to a brief period where GDP growth actually reduced the debt ratio, though inflation spiked as a result.

Discussing the strategic shift toward self-sufficiency, Hayes remarks, "The U.S. needs to industrialize to sustain its defense goals," underscoring the country’s reliance on external manufacturing and the need to bring production back domestically. He warns of the immense costs: “Every single supply chain thing that comes from China needs to go back to America or Western Europe.”

Tariffs, of course, are a large part of President Trump's new economic plan.

Looking ahead, Hayes predicts that inflationary pressures will continue, impacting both traditional markets and alternative assets like bitcoin. With global powers investing heavily in defense and production, Hayes implies that fiscal restraint is unlikely to be prioritized in the near future.