A survey by Hong Kong’s brokerage agency Futu reveals that Gen Z is very optimistic about crypto, seeing 3 times extra potential in Bitcoin than in actual property.
A brand new survey by Hong Kong brokerage agency Futu Securities exhibits that Gen Z is rewriting the monetary playbook. As a substitute of chasing the standard dream of homeownership, this era is betting huge on Bitcoin (BTC) and different tokens. In line with the survey, Gen Z is 3 times extra optimistic about crypto than actual property, signaling a significant shift in how they view monetary safety.
Hong Kong’s newspaper The Normal, citing information revealed by brokerage agency Futu Securities, reveals the standout discovering: 23% of Gen Z respondents really feel safer with simply two Bitcoin of their portfolio than with HK$1 million (roughly $128,400) for a down fee on a house. In a metropolis the place property has at all times been an emblem of wealth and stability, the change in mindset is important.
And there’s good cause for the optimism. Bitcoin surged 125% in 2024, breaking the $100,000 mark in December earlier than settling round $97,000. In the meantime, Hong Kong’s property market has struggled to ship the identical degree of returns. With numbers like these, it’s no shock that digital belongings have gotten a best choice for the youthful era.
For 45% of Gen Z respondents, the comfort and safety of crypto investments outweigh conventional belongings like actual property. It’s not simply concerning the returns — it’s about flexibility. Cryptocurrencies provide a degree of freedom that property possession merely can’t match.
Financial uncertainty shifts focus
Hong Kong residents aren’t feeling too safe about their funds. On common, they price their monetary safety at 6.43 out of 10, in accordance with the survey. With financial uncertainty looming giant, greater than half of respondents are turning to investments to generate passive earnings.
Excessive earners, specifically, are diving headfirst into various and riskier belongings.
- 25% have greater than 5 earnings streams.
- 34% make investments over half their earnings.
- 42% have invested in cryptocurrencies, with 66% seeing income.
It’s clear that prime earners are main the cost, however Gen Z is following shut behind.
Generational shift
The youthful era is shaping a brand new narrative round wealth. For a lot of Gen Z, proudly owning property isn’t the dream anymore. As a substitute, holding “two BTCs” seems like a greater wager for monetary safety.
The newspaper notes that the sentiment isn’t nearly chasing returns, it’s additionally about optimism. Gen Z sees a brighter future for digital belongings. They’re excited concerning the potential of crypto, with some saying it presents freedom and adaptability that conventional belongings can’t match.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the youngsters. 77% of Gen X — these born between 1965 and 1980 — who’re already investing in cryptocurrencies share an optimistic outlook, notably about Bitcoin’s long-term potential.
In a commentary to crypto.information, Vivien Wong, associate liquid fund at HashKey Capital, mentioned the shift of buyers’s mindset unveils a “charming interaction of influences.”
“Whereas the tech-savvy souls are undoubtedly drawn to the digital charms of Bitcoin, with its decentralized attract and futuristic enchantment, the fluctuating property value in Hong Kong’s actual property market within the latest few years can’t be ignored. It’s as if the youthful era, armed with smartphones and coding languages, is spearheading a monetary revolution, the place the attract of digital belongings clashes with the property market.”
Vivien Wong
Wong famous that the affect of Gen Z extends “past social media traits and vogue selections” because the era holds “vital disposable earnings” and reshapes “cultural traits and monetary paradigms.”
“Aligned with values resembling transparency, inclusivity, and digital native tooling, Bitcoin resonates with Gen Z’s ideas, poised to additional develop the cryptocurrency financial system. This shift not solely underscores the altering dynamics of wealth accumulation, but additionally hints the custom meets innovation within the these days monetary.”
Vivien Wong
The Futu report exhibits that diversification is essential. Shares and cryptocurrencies are the preferred asset courses for development. U.S. inventory buying and selling volumes on Futu’s platform shot up by 88% in 2024, with sectors like AI, renewable vitality, and healthcare main the cost.
As Alan Tse, Futu’s managing director, places it “digital belongings have gotten a necessary a part of fashionable portfolios.” In consequence, the shift isn’t nearly investments. It’s a couple of change in how Hong Kongers view monetary safety.