Here's something sobering: across every single U.S. state, a full-time worker on minimum wage simply cannot scrape together enough to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment. Not in one state. Not anywhere. The data tells you everything about the income-to-housing cost ratio—it's completely broken. When traditional employment barely covers basic living expenses, more people start questioning the traditional financial system. This backdrop matters for understanding why so many are exploring alternative wealth storage and investment strategies.