The Next Generation of Investors: Brokers and Digital Assets

The next generation of investors: how brokers are adapting

Overview

What does the next (and current) generation of investors expect, and how are brokers adapting to an asset class their clients demand? In this MERGE Madrid panel, moderated by CoinDesk, flatex, Tradias, Gemini and SwissBorg debate user experience, the role of regulation, technology investment and how tokenization is blurring the lines between broker, wealth manager and exchange.

What you'll learn

• What defines the new generation: transparency, immediacy, personalization and ownership
• UX and trust: why a simple experience and human support remain key
• The regulatory bridge: MiCA as a first step for traditional firms to enter
• Technology first: why most investment goes into product and integration
• Blurring lines: broker, wealth manager and exchange becoming increasingly alike
• Institutional vs retail: liquidity, counterparty risk and the bank balance-sheet challenge

Session summary

The new generation: flatex and SwissBorg describe investors who grew up with transparency, personalization and instant access, who tend to trade on their own and look for an “all-in-one”; even so, a stable platform, human support and trust remain foundations, with price transparency as a differentiator depending on the client profile.

User experience: Gemini and Tradias stress the expectation of 24/7 coverage, real-time feedback, ownership and control, and a “seamless” experience in which the technology works but stays in the background for the user.

The regulatory bridge: the panel agrees that MiCA, while not perfect, is a great first step that removes uncertainty and builds trust; Tradias explains its “goldplating” approach (applying MiFID rules to crypto assets) so the client feels it is “just another asset class”.

Technology first: it highlights that most investment goes into technology, AML and compliance (flatex puts much of its workforce in IT) and that good UX even lets older people onboard and trade easily.

Blurring lines: it debates how the lines between broker, wealth manager and exchange are blurring, and how tokenization (equities and bonds on-chain) and stablecoins give users more ownership and control, reducing traditional intermediation.

Institutional vs retail and the future: it notes that in Europe the market has been mostly retail, with challenges for the institutional side (deep liquidity, counterparty risk, reporting and the capital treatment of crypto on bank balance sheets); looking ahead, the panel bets on financial education, 24/7 multi-asset capability with deep liquidity and accessibility, merging the “intelligence” of private banking with the simplicity of a social app.

Watch the full talk

Watch the full recording on MERGE's YouTube channel, with flatex, Tradias, Gemini and SwissBorg on the next generation of investors.

FAQs

What does the next generation of investors expect?
According to the panel, transparency, immediacy, personalization, ownership and a simple “all-in-one” experience available 24/7.

What does MiCA bring to brokers and banks?
It removes uncertainty and builds trust, setting a standard that makes it easier for traditional firms to offer digital assets.

Why are broker, wealth manager and exchange blurring?
Because their models are increasingly alike, and tokenization and stablecoins give users more direct control over their assets.

Is this investment advice?
No. This content is informational and summarizes what was presented in the panel; it does not constitute investment advice. Consult a professional for your specific situation.