Gen Z & Millennials Ditch Legacy Banks—Bet Big on Crypto Instead
Traditional finance is bleeding customers—and crypto ventures are mopping up the exodus. Young investors aren’t just dipping toes in decentralized waters; they’re diving headfirst.
Why? Banks still charge fees like it’s 1999.
No more 3-day waits for transfers. No more ‘minimum balance’ shakedowns. Just peer-to-peer speed and yield that doesn’t insult your intelligence. Even regulators—usually slower than a Bitcoin block in 2010—are scrambling to adapt.
Closing thought: If banks wanted loyalty, maybe they shouldn’t have spent decades treating deposits like hostage situations.

Youngsters Leave Conventional Banks Behind
Barron’s study shows young users are searching for tokenized stocks, high-yield opportunities, and flexible Web3-based tools. Meanwhile, banks remain distinguished by slow transaction approval times and limited interest rates. DeFi protocols, by offering advantages like 24/7 access and peer-to-peer lending, aim to fill this gap. The transparency in transaction records and smart contracts provided by DeFi enhances trust while reducing intermediary costs.
According to Deaton, banks that fail to embrace innovative technology will not sustain themselves. The fear of high inflation and the growing demand for yield are steering users towards crypto-based savings and credit solutions. Asset-backed loans, in particular, allow young individuals to finance cars or homes without relying on traditional branches.
Ripple and Coinbase Could Replace Banks
Deaton highlights that platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood are now more than just trading applications. Referring to Cathie Wood’s prediction of “Bitcoin$109,801-backed mortgages,” he points to the almost 100% rise in COIN shares in just two months as indicative of institutional interest. He also notes that these platforms’ shifts towards offering credit, insurance, and asset management services will accelerate as regulations become clearer.
Rumors about Ripple, the issuer of altcoin XRP, potentially acquiring Uphold could fundamentally alter the landscape, according to the lawyer. Ripple, a frontrunner in cross-border payments, could provide multi-asset transactions to a broadened user base if merged with Uphold. Deaton assesses that such mergers could transform the cryptocurrency ecosystem into a complete financial infrastructure.
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