"The crypto trading phenomenon also seems to be, as others have noted, related to social and economic trends that include the legalization and legitimization of gambling in the United States, historically low yields on bank deposits, and growing levels of wealth and income inequality. Three trends seem particularly closely correlated with crypto trading because they involve many younger men of similar social status: the rapid rise of sports betting and e-sports as new forms of legal gambling, the emergence of a broad “gamer” culture, and a “conspiracy theory” mindset about the world in general and traditional financial services in particular.
But whatever the reasons for its popularity and despite its façade of traditional finance nomenclature, one thing is certain: Crypto trading is not providing “finance” or “financial services” to anyone or delivering economically or socially productive investment."