Low-Income Investors Sold Most Crypto Holdings During the Market Crash (Survey)

CryptoPotatoPublished on 2022-07-31Last updated on 2022-07-31

Abstract

Civic Science found out that 54% of the digital asset investors weathered the storm and did not cash out their crypto holdings.

Nearly half of the surveyed cryptocurrency investors (46%) admitted to selling some of their possessions in the last several weeks. Those with lower salaries were more likely to part with their holdings.

Most HODLers Tend to Be Wealthy

The American-based business intelligence company – Civic Science – polled thousands of cryptocurrency investors to find out how the ongoing market crash affected their actions. 26% said they cashed out a lot of their positions, while 20% sold a small amount.

Unsurprisingly, most financially stable individuals (specifically those earning over $150,000 per year) remained HODLers since only 28% of them parted with some crypto possessions. 65% of those from the lower income bracket, though, sold a chunk of their stash.

The desire to invest in digital assets has also changed due to the price collapse. In January, 54% of the investors said the market volatility is a significant obstacle that could stop them from distributing wealth in it, while currently, 58% share that opinion.

Still, the main reason people stay away from the digital asset realm is not the price swings. 30% believe bitcoin is not legitimate, while 23% pointed out its volatility. 10% admitted they don’t have the financial ability to enter the ecosystem, and 5% do not understand how to buy crypto assets.

Crypto Is Popular Among the Rich

Several other studies have proven the assumption that digital assets are an attractive investment option mainly for rich individuals. A survey carried out by CNBC at the end of 2021 estimated that 83% of millennial millionaires own cryptocurrencies. 48% said they plan to increase their exposure in 2022, and only 6% believe they should reduce their holdings.

The rich millennials have also invested a significant amount of their wealth in bitcoin or altcoins. 53% stated that half of their portfolio is in crypto, and 30% admitted that 75% of their total fortune is allocated there.

Another recent research conducted by Forbes revealed that billionaires are also inclined toward the asset class. According to the results, every third polled person with a total wealth of at least $1 billion has some kind of exposure to cryptocurrencies.

Some notable names on that list include Sam Bankman-Fried – CEO and Co-Founder of FTX – who said that between 76% and 100% of his portfolio is distributed in digital assets.

The owner of The Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban – is also part of that club. He even said that during the market collapse, his crypto holdings had performed better than his tech shares:

“It’s no different than investing in stocks, bonds, other assets. Interest rates go up, risk assets go down. My tech stocks have performed worse than my crypto has.”

Trending Cryptos

Related Reads

The Entire Internet Hails Noam's Joining, But OpenAI's Loss Bill Just Got Thicker

While the AI community celebrates Noam Shazeer, co-author of the "Attention Is All You Need" paper, joining OpenAI as Head of Architectural Research, the company's audited financials reveal a starkly different reality. In 2025, OpenAI reported $13.07 billion in revenue but a massive $20.92 billion operating loss. Even excluding a one-time accounting charge, the cash burn is severe, with $3.7 billion consumed in Q1 2026 alone. This high-profile hiring occurs against a backdrop of significant internal research talent drain, with key founders and researchers departing as the company's focus shifts from exploratory research to product iteration. Meanwhile, OpenAI's fundamental business model faces a deep crisis. It paid Microsoft $10.59 billion for compute in 2025, while its vast user base of 9 billion weekly actives includes only 50 million paying customers, making growth a direct driver of escalating costs. The article argues Shazeer's recruitment is less about technical necessity and more about crafting a compelling narrative for OpenAI's upcoming IPO, aiming to justify a rumored $1 trillion valuation to future public market investors. It contrasts OpenAI's strategy with Anthropic's reported path to profitability, which relies on a strong enterprise customer base and cost control, rather than star-powered narratives. Ultimately, the piece concludes that while Shazeer's architectural work may take 1-2 years to materialize, OpenAI's financial clock is ticking much faster, with its massive losses undercutting the celebratory headlines.

marsbit38m ago

The Entire Internet Hails Noam's Joining, But OpenAI's Loss Bill Just Got Thicker

marsbit38m ago

Market Trend (June 19): US-Iran Deal Drives Out Geopolitical Premium; Chip Stocks Soar to New Highs; Energy Sector Leads Declines

U.S. Market Trends (June 19): U.S.-Iran Deal Eases Tensions, Chip Stocks Soar, Energy Sector Leads Declines. U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as the signing of a temporary U.S.-Iran deal in Geneva de-escalated Middle East tensions, with Saudi oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This geopolitical relief helped markets recover from recent Fed-driven volatility. The S&P 500 rose over 1%, the Nasdaq gained nearly 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at another record high. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged over 6% to a historic peak. Chip stocks were the standout performers. Reports of an Apple-Intel design and foundry deal for certain products, alongside mentions of potential Nvidia and SpaceX collaborations with Intel, propelled the sector. Intel surged ~10.5%, while memory chip makers like Micron also saw significant gains, highlighting sustained confidence in long-term AI capital expenditure. In contrast, the energy sector was the day's sole loser, with the S&P 500 energy sub-index declining as WTI crude fell ~2% to around $74.29/barrel. The reopening of key shipping routes erased prior geopolitical risk premiums. SpaceX extended losses for a second day on news of a potential large bond offering. Market volatility (VIX) dropped sharply, indicating a swift reversal of post-Fed jitters. Treasury yields dipped slightly but remained elevated. The focus now shifts to upcoming economic data, including next week's PCE inflation report and Micron's earnings, which will serve as a key test for the AI trade's durability.

marsbit1h ago

Market Trend (June 19): US-Iran Deal Drives Out Geopolitical Premium; Chip Stocks Soar to New Highs; Energy Sector Leads Declines

marsbit1h ago

Will MicroStrategy Fall Into a Death Spiral? How Will the Macro Outlook Evolve in the Second Half of the Year?

**Summary:** The discussion centers on recent Bitcoin price declines and the evolving financial strategy of MicroStrategy (MSTR). The core argument is that the primary pressure is not from one-off Bitcoin sales by MSTR, but from the market's new expectation that MSTR may need to engage in *sustained, small-scale* Bitcoin sales to cover cash flow obligations for its growing portfolio of preferred shares and debt instruments (like STRC). This shift is driven by its stated goal of maintaining "bitcoins per share neutrality." The market is now testing whether it can absorb this potential ongoing selling pressure without entering a severe "death spiral" with Bitcoin's price. A resolution may involve MSTR softening its approach to avoid damaging both its stock and Bitcoin. The conversation then explores the parallel rise of AI-related stocks. The guest posits that AI is fundamentally restructuring labor, with "tokens" (representing access to AI models/compute) becoming a new form of capital and a substitute for human execution. This drives corporate efficiency and profits, benefiting upstream hardware providers (semiconductors, data centers), which explains the sustained rally. This represents the early stages of a "machine economy." Regarding crypto exchanges offering US stock trading, this is seen as a natural evolution. With few crypto-native assets generating lasting value, exchanges are pivoting to distribute valuable real-world assets (RWAs). This doesn't necessarily harm crypto's long-term prospects, as blockchain infrastructure may become crucial for future machine-to-machine economies. The analysis concludes that the era of rampant altcoin speculation is likely over, heavily damaged by the liquidity shock of the "1011" event (likely referring to a major market crash). Meme-driven capital has largely migrated to US equities. Looking ahead, macroeconomic uncertainty is rising due to potential large IPOs (e.g., SpaceX) and the US elections. While short-term market corrections are possible, the long-term trends of AI-driven productivity gains and the maturation of blockchain towards real-world utility and institutional adoption remain intact.

marsbit1h ago

Will MicroStrategy Fall Into a Death Spiral? How Will the Macro Outlook Evolve in the Second Half of the Year?

marsbit1h ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

394 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BTC (BTC) are presented below.

活动图片