It’s no secret that Gen Z has a less optimistic economic outlook than older generations. So it’s no wonder many of them are engaging in so-called financial nihilism, applying a gloomy outlook to their financial mindset, resulting in a new and different take on investing. Most Read from Fast Company Zoomers grew up with smartphones, the internet, and social media during difficult times like the 2008 economic crisis and Great Recession, and the subsequent Occupy Wall Street protest movement. As such, they ...

Core Insights - A significant increase in users entering crypto for inflation protection, rising from 29% to 46% globally [3][8] - Latin America shows strong community-driven adoption, with 63% of new users seeking passive income [4][8] - Wealth distribution is shifting, with a decline in high-net-worth wallets in East Asia and a rise in mid-tier wallets [5][6][8] Regional Trends - East Asia sees inflation protection as a primary motivation, with 52% of users citing this reason, up from previous figures [3] - The Middle East also experiences a notable increase, with users citing inflation protection rising from 27% to 45% [3] - South Asia emerges as a trading hub, with 52% of user activity in spot trading and 53% motivated by financial independence [4] Asset Preferences - Public chain tokens are the most widely held assets, with over 65% of users globally including them in their portfolios [5] - Stablecoin usage remains steady at 50%, indicating a balance between hedging against volatility and seeking yield [5] - Mid-tier wallets ($5k–$20k) are increasing, suggesting broader participation in the crypto market [6] Future Outlook - MEXC forecasts continued growth in users entering crypto for wealth protection and an increase in structured trading strategies [6] - Core holdings like public chain assets are expected to remain dominant despite the short-term interest in memecoins and AI tokens [6] Market Penetration - Over 50 million Americans now own crypto, reflecting its shift into the financial mainstream, with 21% of US adults participating [7]