Traditional investments are becoming an increasingly distant target for today’s new generation, with Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets beginning to occupy the place associated with the youngest financial decisions.
This is stated by Matthew Bartlett, Web3 Chief of Vaneck Investments Firm and NFT Community. He points out that millennials and Gen Z are rethinking the role of money, property and value in an economy where traditional paths to wealth appear to be limited.
Bartlett warns that the difficulty of accessing the real estate sector, the concentration of open markets in the hands of the institutions, and the constant loss of purchasing power in traditional FIAT systems have led these groups to seek alternatives. It’s not a financial denial, But in another way related to them;Analysts say they want assets that are accessible and transparent and tailored to their daily lives.
There, cryptocurrency and collectable digital tokens fit in. They can provide flexibility, portability and cultural attributionaccording to Vanek’s manager.
Bartlett’s analysis states that the digital shortage remains a value signal among younger investors. He believes that what was previously applied to art, classic cars, or exclusive wines has been converted into collectible cards, limited editing shoes, or fixed supply tokens.
«Digital shortages are not a replacement for physical assets. It expands what is possible and creates a cultural, invertible hybrid experience,” says the specialist.
A recent example shows that. The NFT Pudgy Penguins project has evolved from simple profile images to brands that exist in toys, licensing and popular culture. Also, companies like Orange Cap Game We took an additional step by creating collectible characters that combine physical and digital Verifiable experience in distributed networks.
Tokenized assets have also been expanded. This can guarantee the value of watches, art, cards and other values without guaranteeing reliability through watches, art, cards and linked digital tokens, as defined by encrypted encryption.
This phenomenon is not merely financial. This is given that wallets can reflect identity and social attribution. It’s just as cultural signal as an investment portfolio. According to Bartlett, for those who have grown in a digital environment, wealth is also measured in participation and meaning.
«It’s easy to focus on noise, but here’s a clear signal. There is a real demand for assets that combine rarity, usefulness and cultural relevance. It is unlikely that this demand will soon decline,” he said.
Take care of the risks
This process shows the risks. Bartlett explains that price volatility, fraud and speculation are current factors, and that not all projects have the same solidity. but, The sector recognizes advances in the areas of custody, regulation, certification and compliance.
Global context adds weight to this change. The Xapo Bank’s report identifies what he calls a major transfer of wealth. This is the relocation of baby boomers to millennials and generation X, which could reach $84 billion in the US in 2045.
Unlike its predecessor, the banking company’s analysts claim that millennials and Gen Z members have greater power towards alternative assets, decentralized models and innovation. The former grew with the expansion of the Internet, The latter is developed in a fully digital environment and explains its affinity with Bitcoin and other cryptographic effects.
Bitcoin performance history enhances its preferences. Between 2011 and 2025, assets maintained an annual combined growth of over 100%, exceeding traditional stock market rates such as the S&P 500. This evolution has led managers such as BlackRock to recommend 1% exposure in diversified portfolios, while grayscale investments suggest an allocation of up to 5%.
For Vanek, what is at risk is more than the passing trend. There is a generation that seeks rare, verifiable, and globally negotiable digital assetsusing property models that reflect their lifestyle and interaction habits. They will not abandon the financial system. They are reopening it to their scale.
