Bitcoin FOMO Ignites Market Surge: Is Retail Finally Jumping Back In?

FOMO is back with a vengeance—Bitcoin’s latest rally sparks a flood of fresh capital. Are mom-and-pop investors finally shaking off the bear-market blues?

The Retail Revival?

Exchange inflows hit levels not seen since the 2021 mania. Wallet data shows small transactions spiking—classic retail behavior. But is this sustainable, or just another bull trap for the little guy?

Institutional Heat vs. Retail Warmth

Whales keep stacking sats, but the real story’s in the shallow end. Platforms like Coinbase report surging signups—though let’s see how many last when volatility inevitably returns.

The Cynic’s Corner

Wall Street’s still playing with your dopamine—pumping ‘decentralized’ assets while controlling the on-ramps. Some things never change.

Institutional weight still dominates market

Wintermute’s H1 2025 OTC Market Report has highlighted the sharpest divide between institutional and retail behavior in nearly two years. The data shows big players doubling down on Bitcoin and Ethereum, while smaller investors have shifted attention elsewhere, creating the widest gap in market focus since 2023.

Major buyers hold around 67% of allocations in Bitcoin and Ethereum, while retail has cut its combined share to just 37%. OTC trading volumes also surged to 2.4 times faster than exchange trading in H1, as big players sought large, discreet trades off public order books.

Retail investors are said to be shifting their attention toward altcoins, suggesting that while interest in Bitcoin is returning, most of their capital may still FLOW elsewhere.