BTC has likely created more millionaires (10,000+?) and deca millionaires (1,000+?) than any company or startup in history. these are individual “retail” investors realizing these returns, not institutions, which may drive the Rise of Retail...

1) retail interest in speculative (high-risk/high-reward) investments will continue to sky rocket. BTC’s meteoric USD-denominated value climb sets a new benchmark. everyone is already chasing the next dragon.

2) more speculative public equity is being purchased by retail investors who are increasingly becoming key driver of public offering events (through SPACs, direct listings, and IPOs syndicated to retail investors. instead of a handful of “strong” institutional investors).

3) banks, exchanges, funds that make it easier for retail to participate in public offerings will benefit. imagine an online-only brokerage as the sole book runner on an IPO, syndicating only to their retail accounts. if it worked, every IPO may soon follow.

4) many of these speculative public companies will likely fail to perform over time, but all it takes is a handful delivering 10-100x returns to keep interest strong. the likely reaction will be diversification, which will further drive demand.