Retail investors will 'undoubtedly' move to Bitcoin, says Fidelity

Fidelity Digital Assets, the cryptocurrency custody and execution arm of United States financial services giant Fidelity, has claimed in a new report that retail investors will turn their attention to digital currency as they become more familiar with Bitcoin and other crypto offerings via social media platforms.

According to the report, social media and communication platforms including Twitter, Reddit, Telegram, YouTube, and Tik Tok are driving the retail adoption of Bitcoin; they dissemble financial information and advice in a "More viral and rapid" way than traditional channels.

"As this new wave of retail investors familiarize themselves with these channels, some of their attention will undoubtedly flow to Bitcoin and other digital assets," the report states.

"Bitcoin is reflexive," suggested the report.

"Price and sentiment experience a self-reinforcing effect."

The authors pointed to data from The TIE, a sentiment analysis firm, illustrating that abnormally high mentions of Bitcoin on social media can drive increases in the value of the digital currency.

"The behavior of retail investors and institutional investors can be different," posits the report, noting that data from Coinbase suggested that the former tend to "Buy the dip" following a slide in prices.

It also noted the continuing increase in the number of wallets holding less than one full Bitcoin as evidence that retail investors continue to find the asset an "Aspirational" investment.

"What is unique about bitcoin is that it's retail driven. Financial media and the way people consume investment information is changing, and influencers command more attention than institutions."

The report continued to identify the "Retail resurgence" in traditional markets through the rise of platforms that make trading easier, presumably including millennial-favorite Robinhood, use of which has soared during the pandemic.