Michigan consumer sentiment just printed a surprise beat this January. The gauge climbed to 54.0, landing above both the forecast of 53.5 and the prior month's 52.9. Stronger than expected consumer confidence can signal resilience in U.S. economic activity, which typically influences Federal Reserve policy deliberations and overall risk appetite across financial markets. For crypto traders, these economic indicators matter—shifts in Fed expectations and sentiment tend to ripple through digital asset valuations. Worth watching how this feeds into the broader narrative around inflation, rate trajectories, and capital flows into risk-on positions.