U.S. food inflation tells a bigger story. Since 2022, prices at the grocery store have surged nearly 19%, and that's just the visible part. When essentials cost more, people rethink where their money goes. This ripple effect matters for anyone holding assets—whether it's traditional stocks, bonds, or digital currencies. Higher food costs squeeze purchasing power, which typically drives investors toward alternative stores of value. The broader inflation narrative reshapes how portfolios get balanced. Crypto often enters these conversations when traditional inflation hedges feel exhausted. Understanding these economic shifts helps frame why different asset classes move the way they do.