Gen Z’s Rebellion Fueling Bitcoin Adoption: How Social Unrest is Shaping Crypto’s Future
Trust in traditional systems is crumbling—and Bitcoin's poised to benefit.
Younger generations watched banks get bailed out while student debt piled up. Now they're voting with their wallets.
The Great Wealth Transfer (With a Crypto Twist)
Boomer retirement accounts won't cut it for a generation that came of age during financial crises. Bitcoin's fixed supply looks increasingly attractive as central banks keep printing.
Digital Natives Meet Digital Gold
Gen Z doesn't need convincing about decentralized systems—they grew up on them. The leap from social media algorithms to blockchain protocols isn't as far as Wall Street thinks.
Of course, some hedge fund manager will still call it 'a speculative asset' right before launching their own Bitcoin ETF.
Why Is Gen Z Discontented?
Jordy Visser, a Wall Street veteran with 30 years of experience, highlighted that assets like Bitcoin, gold, and the S&P 500 have reached record highs. In the interview with Anthony Pompliano, he emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) is the main driver behind this growth, especially in sectors like technology and energy.
However, Visser also warned that this boom comes with unprecedented challenges. It is fueling growing frustration among young people.
Specifically, he predicts that “digital employees” and humanoid robots will replace a large part of the traditional workforce. This shift will lead to DEEP restructuring in employment and productivity.
“They’re just saying we’re not going to hire as much, which means going forward, the people that are going to be hired are going to be digital employees,” Visser said.
Additionally, Visser argued that political pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates could undermine the central bank’s independence. Over the long term, this could erode trust in the Fed and the US dollar.
“I believe that the Fed should be cutting rates… The inflation rate has given them the chance to cut rates… and the fact that the government is saying we don’t believe in Fed independence,” he added.
In reality, young people today face a harsh truth: the traditional American Dream — stable employment, career growth, and homeownership — feels increasingly out of reach. Rising living costs, student debt, and competition from AI in the job market make many feel the current economic system is no longer built for them.
Because of these factors, Visser believes bitcoin will benefit from social instability and declining faith in fiat currency.
“The younger people don’t have a belief that the system will come back. They believe the system has been worsening every single year… That entire path is gone [get a job, MOVE up, buy a house]. And that’s why the students are so angry and why socialism is happening. So, I think where Bitcoin fits into it,” he said.
Young investors now skip stocks and real estate — assets tied to the old system — and instead choose Bitcoin. They see Bitcoin as a new asset class they can carry easily, manage directly, and use without banks.
Experts See Bitcoin as Part of a New American Dream for Gen Z
Sharing Visser’s view, CZ, the former CEO of Binance, predicted that owning just 0.1 BTC (about $10,800 at the time of writing) could soon be worth more than buying a house in the US. Michael Saylor, Chairman of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), supported this view. He said Bitcoin now belongs inside the American Dream.
Jeff Park, portfolio manager at Bitwise, also noted that the American Dream is shifting for younger generations. He explained that owning a full Bitcoin is starting to replace homeownership as a symbol of financial freedom for Millennials and Gen Z.
Meanwhile, Pulte, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), announced that US mortgages will start reviewing home loan applications using crypto assets like Bitcoin.
