A joint study by Northwestern University and the University of Chicago reveals that rising housing prices are prompting some Gen Z individuals to abandon homeownership goals. Instead, they are increasing consumption, reducing savings, and showing a preference for high-risk investments. The research highlights that when young renters perceive homeownership as unattainable through savings, their risk tolerance increases, with cryptocurrencies identified as a typical high-risk investment. Notably, the study also found that the proportion of Gen Z holding crypto assets now surpasses those with retirement accounts.