Invest Today

29 October 2026 | Financial Markets & Technology

A Generational Shift in Financial Power

For generations, financial markets operated through a relatively small collection of intermediaries. Banks, stockbrokers, investment advisers and institutional asset managers controlled much of the infrastructure through which ordinary individuals could participate in financial markets. Investing was often expensive, complicated and inaccessible.

Today, this structure is being challenged.

The emergence of low-cost trading platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges and prediction markets is fundamentally changing the relationship between individuals and financial institutions. I believe this transformation reflects something larger than technological innovation: a generational shift towards financial independence, greater individual responsibility and reduced reliance on traditional institutions.

Research supports this transition. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Retail Investor Outlook, 30% of Generation Z respondents began investing during university or early adulthood, compared with just 9% of Generation X and 6% of Baby Boomers. Younger generations are entering financial markets considerably earlier than their predecessors. (World Economic Forum)

The Rise of Self-Directed Investing

Robinhood has become one of the clearest beneficiaries of this transformation. By introducing commission-free stock trading, fractional ownership and accessible mobile applications, the company helped remove barriers that historically discouraged retail participation.

By September 2026, Robinhood had accumulated 28.7 million funded customers and $396 billion in platform assets. This represents an enormous concentration of individual financial activity within a relatively young financial institution. (Robinhood Investor Relations)

South Africa is experiencing a similar development. EasyEquities, owned by Purple Group, reported approximately 1.245 million active clients in February 2026, representing annual growth of 21.9%. Its success demonstrates that demand for accessible investment products extends well beyond developed markets. (Purple Group)

Importantly, these platforms are not simply attracting customers away from traditional brokers. They are introducing entirely new demographics to financial markets.

Cryptocurrency, Self-Custody and Financial Sovereignty

Cryptocurrency represents a more radical expression of the same philosophy.

While conventional investment platforms reduce the cost of financial intermediation, blockchain technology introduces the possibility of eliminating certain intermediaries altogether.

Coinbase, which reported approximately $5.2 trillion in total trading volume during 2025, has positioned itself as a major participant in this developing ecosystem. Meanwhile, Bullish is building institutional cryptocurrency trading infrastructure that could support the gradual convergence of traditional securities markets and digital assets. (Coinbase Investor Relations)

In South Africa, platforms including Luno have contributed to growing cryptocurrency participation. The South African Reserve Bank reported approximately 7.8 million registered customer accounts across Luno, VALR and Ovex in 2025, although these accounts do not necessarily represent unique individuals. (South African Reserve Bank)

Perhaps the most interesting development is the growing appeal of self-custody. For the first time, individuals can directly control certain financial assets through cryptographic ownership rather than relying entirely on banks or custodians.

The Emergence of a Lower-Trust Society

I believe this transition is partly connected to broader changes in institutional trust.

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer found that 70% of respondents globally were hesitant or unwilling to trust people holding different values or perspectives. While this does not directly measure confidence in banks, it illustrates an increasingly fragmented social environment. (Edelman Trust Barometer)

Against this backdrop, cryptocurrency, self-directed investing and decentralised financial infrastructure offer individuals greater control over their economic decisions.

This does not necessarily indicate the disappearance of trust. Rather, we may be witnessing its redistribution: away from certain established institutions and towards transparent systems, technology platforms and individual judgement.

Prediction Markets and the Financialisation of Information

Prediction markets represent another fascinating development.

Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow individuals to express financial opinions on real-world outcomes, ranging from economic policy to sporting events.

According to Pew Research Center, combined monthly trading volume across these platforms increased from approximately $2 billion in July 2025 to $53 billion in July 2026. Much of the recent growth has been driven by sports-related contracts. (Pew Research Center)

These markets illustrate how technology is expanding the boundaries of financial participation, although the distinction between informed speculation and gambling remains an important consideration.

The Investment Opportunity

For investors, the implications could be significant.

I believe companies such as Robinhood, Coinbase and Bullish are positioned to capture portions of the economic value historically concentrated within traditional financial institutions.

The opportunity extends beyond trading commissions. Custody, payments, market data, liquidity provision, tokenisation and financial infrastructure all represent potential sources of future revenue.

However, greater accessibility brings risks. Individual investors may benefit from lower fees and more choice while simultaneously becoming more exposed to speculative behaviour, leverage and financial losses.

Ultimately, I believe the next generation will increasingly demand direct ownership, transparency and control over its financial future.

The institutions that successfully facilitate this transition may become some of the most important financial businesses of the coming decades.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not personalised financial advice.