Invest
Why crypto doesn’t just inspire investors, but also fans
The hype around crypto is getting harder and harder to ignore.
Why crypto doesn’t just inspire investors, but also fans
The excitement around cryptocurrencies like bitcoin has often been likened to that of a cult.
In recent years, it’s even been called exactly that by veterans in the financial services world.
Back in May 2021, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said that bitcoin was “a cult that can survive indefinitely”.
As fervent calls to “hold on for dear life” (HODL) echo through social media networks, it’s hard not to ask whether cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are inspiring investors so much as they are fans.

Speaking to nestegg, RMIT’s Angel Zhong suggested that “the social media sentiment and the associated social trading inspire the surge in trading in crypto”.
“What I have observed is that, while in the sharemarket, investors look into the fundamentals of companies that they invest in, equivalent research is not conducted before investing in crypto,” Ms Zhong said.
Asked whether there’s something unique to the way in which cryptocurrencies inspire certain economic behaviours versus other assets like shares or property, Macquarie University’s Maroš Servátka told nestegg that “people do not purchase cryptocurrency because of consumption”.
According to him, “Many do it because of the speculative motive, but there are people who are true believers as well. They purchase the asset and hold onto it for a long time as well.”
“I don’t want to call it fanaticism or anything like that, but you are a fan of something.”
Mr Servátka said cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are “one of the most volatile assets that there is”, noting that a single day of trading can see the price of bitcoin swing 10 per cent in one direction, followed by 15 per cent in another.
“We don’t see these kinds of swings with other currencies. We don’t see the value of assets drop in other markets,” he said.
Mr Servátka’s take is that where investors in assets like property and shares have two potential motives, crypto investors have just one.
In addition to their market value, Mr Servátka noted that non-crypto “assets that people buy generate some sort of stream of income. They have a fundamental value.”.
“Bitcoin doesn’t really have this. There is no stream of income associated with it.”
“It’s purely speculative motive,” Mr Servátka said.
He says that, as opposed to the similar speculation that occurs in the sharemarkets, cryptocurrencies have been boosted by a number of other factors.
These include the growth of new and younger retail investors jumping into the market, to the rise of app-based platforms that lower the transaction cost of purchasing assets.
“That part of investing has always been there, but what has become possible is the exchange of information – people talk more, which fuels more trading,” he said.
About the author

About the author


Cryptocurrency
OKX launches automated trading bots for Australian crypto traders
Cryptocurrency platform OKX Australia has introduced two automated trading bots aimed at helping local traders manage their digital asset portfolios around the clock. Read more

Cryptocurrency
New survey reveals high crypto adoption in Australia amid housing affordability concerns
A new survey by Protocol Theory, in partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Easy Crypto, has found that nearly 50% of Australians have bought or are considering buying cryptocurrency in the next ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Investing in digital assets: A new avenue for earning
The digital age has introduced a plethora of new investment opportunities, ranging from cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to digital art and tokenized assets. For investors in Australia ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Navigating the crypto landscape: A beginner's guide to investing in Australia
Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm, offering an innovative platform for digital assets and investments. In Australia, the crypto market has seen substantial growth, attracting both seasoned ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency losses mount as hacks and scams continue to plague the industry
The cryptocurrency industry has lost over $400 million to hacks in 2024 so far, with the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector being the most vulnerable, according to research by experts at Smart ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Institutional investors bolster cryptocurrency allocations amidst growing confidence
A recent study by London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management, a leading regulated digital assets hedge fund, has revealed a significant shift in the mindset of institutional investors and wealth ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Institutional investors set sights on expanding crypto portfolios in the coming year
New research from London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management, a leading regulated digital assets hedge fund manager, indicates a significant positive shift in institutional investors' attitudes ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
BingX reports significant growth and innovation in 2023 amidst industry challenges
BingX, a prominent crypto exchange, has disclosed notable achievements in 2023, amidst a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and sector-specific turbulence. The company has managed to double its ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
OKX launches automated trading bots for Australian crypto traders
Cryptocurrency platform OKX Australia has introduced two automated trading bots aimed at helping local traders manage their digital asset portfolios around the clock. Read more

Cryptocurrency
New survey reveals high crypto adoption in Australia amid housing affordability concerns
A new survey by Protocol Theory, in partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Easy Crypto, has found that nearly 50% of Australians have bought or are considering buying cryptocurrency in the next ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Investing in digital assets: A new avenue for earning
The digital age has introduced a plethora of new investment opportunities, ranging from cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to digital art and tokenized assets. For investors in Australia ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Navigating the crypto landscape: A beginner's guide to investing in Australia
Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm, offering an innovative platform for digital assets and investments. In Australia, the crypto market has seen substantial growth, attracting both seasoned ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency losses mount as hacks and scams continue to plague the industry
The cryptocurrency industry has lost over $400 million to hacks in 2024 so far, with the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector being the most vulnerable, according to research by experts at Smart ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Institutional investors bolster cryptocurrency allocations amidst growing confidence
A recent study by London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management, a leading regulated digital assets hedge fund, has revealed a significant shift in the mindset of institutional investors and wealth ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
Institutional investors set sights on expanding crypto portfolios in the coming year
New research from London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management, a leading regulated digital assets hedge fund manager, indicates a significant positive shift in institutional investors' attitudes ...Read more

Cryptocurrency
BingX reports significant growth and innovation in 2023 amidst industry challenges
BingX, a prominent crypto exchange, has disclosed notable achievements in 2023, amidst a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and sector-specific turbulence. The company has managed to double its ...Read more