According to BlockBeats, senior analyst James Van Straten from CoinDesk shared insights on October 1, indicating that retail investors are less prominent in the current cryptocurrency market cycle and are displaying a heightened level of sophistication.

Van Straten pointed out that retail investors played a crucial role in the previous bull market, significantly driving up digital asset prices and fueling market excitement. Many of these investors made their initial foray into cryptocurrency during the COVID lockdowns between 2021 and 2022.

In contrast, the latest bull market, which commenced in mid-2023, is largely influenced by institutional investment. Discussions are currently centered around exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the gradual integration of traditional finance (TradFi) into the crypto space. While retail participation has not yet reached the levels seen in previous cycles, there is still interest in meme coins.