NewsMeter

U.S. debt tops $40 trillion; Bitcoin down 28% in 12 months

10/8/2026

national debt exceeded $40 trillion as of Aug. 18, according to the Treasury Department. This figure is more than double the debt level recorded in 2017. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) fell 28% in the 12 months through Aug.

The relationship between the national debt and Bitcoin is not necessarily tightly coupled.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected in February 2026 that the annual deficit for this year would reach $1.9 trillion, or 5.8% of the country's GDP.

The CBO also estimates that debt held by the public will reach 101% of GDP this year and 120% by 2036 if current trends continue. The national debt represents the pool of liability borrowed but not yet repaid.