Markets are more speculative and embracing more risk than in 2021, says WSJ's Gunjan Banerji

Retail Investor Behavior - Retail investors remain bullish and are allocating capital to assets perceived as risky [1][2][3] - Individual investors are increasingly utilizing leveraged ETPs, with assets under management for leveraged equity-tied ETFs reaching a record high of $119 billion [4][5] - Individual investors have a larger presence in options trading compared to 2021, particularly in zero-DTE (Days to Expiration) options [6] Market Speculation and Gamification - The market has become more gamified since 2021, with increased risk-taking behavior [7] - Betting on short-term stock and ETF movements has become more prevalent [8][9] Crypto Market Dynamics - Companies heavily invested in cryptocurrencies are gaining traction, reminiscent of the SPAC trend [11] - Speculation is concentrated in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and companies associated with them [11] Tech Stock Trends - Top traded stocks on platforms like Interactive Brokers and Fidelity include tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, and Tesla [12] - While some believe money might shift from AI-related stocks to crypto, the AI trade remains strong [13][14]