Recent research by global crypto trading platform, Tothemoon, unveils a significant shift in retail crypto trading trends. Conducted in early 2025, the study aimed to comprehend the evolving behaviors of traders in the current crypto market. The survey participants comprised traders from diverse backgrounds, varying experience levels, and different risk tolerances.
The findings indicate a transformation in retail crypto trading approaches. Traders are amalgamating traditional methods with advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI). Moreover, the impact of social influence is escalating. This article highlights the primary discoveries.
Surge in AI Utilization
Approximately 36.6% of respondents are leveraging AI tools to facilitate trading, with an additional 28% planning to adopt these tools soon. This signifies an increasing trend of automation in the retail sector. AI bots, assistants, and signal tools are progressively becoming standard trading equipment.
Trading decisions are no longer solely dependent on news or charts. Memes, accounting for 28.1%, and AI signals at 24.2%, are almost as influential as news, which stands at 28.5%. This data indicates traders now employ a variety of sources for decision-making.
Risk Tolerance on the Rise
There’s an expanding risk tolerance among retail traders. While 42.1% identify as medium-risk participants, 18.8% actively engage in high-risk strategies, such as trading memecoins and other speculative assets. This trend intimates a shifting perception of financial risk, particularly among younger traders.
Crypto trading has become a routine aspect of digital life for many, with 34.3% of users checking markets more than five times a day, and another 27.3% checking three to five times daily.
Human Barriers, Not Technical
The primary obstacles to retail adoption are personal rather than technical. About 31.2% of respondents cited insufficient funds, 28.9% expressed fear of financial loss, and 19.8% felt overwhelmed. User-friendly interfaces and better support could help overcome these barriers.
Future expectations include more integration between crypto and conventional finance, such as AI-managed funds, tokenized real-world assets, and culturally-themed coins, indicating a more harmonized financial system.
Change in Stablecoin Preferences
Although USDT remains the most popular stablecoin, interest in alternatives is growing. Algorithmic stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are attracting a rising number of retail users.
Amid 55.4% of retail traders preferring to manage their portfolios independently, many are using AI for tasks like portfolio monitoring and rebalancing, signifying a move towards self-directed investing with automated aid.
Evolution in Emotional Responses
Fewer traders exhibit panic during market crashes, with only 18% stating they would sell in a downturn. Conversely, 29.9% would hold, and 23.9% would buy more, displaying growing confidence in the long-term potential of crypto assets.
The typical 2025 crypto trader doesn’t fit a single archetype. They integrate trading strategies with cultural trends, social media signals, and automation tools, swiftly adapting to new opportunities.
