Young, high-earning, digitally savvy: Always-on investors are changing markets

Kurt MayellSeptember 22, 2026 — 3:30pmNot so long ago, investing had a rhythm. Markets opened at 9.30am, closed at 4pm, and whatever happened in between was tomorrow’s problem. So what’s changed the rhythm of investing? A big part of the answer lies in cryptocurrency.Since Bitcoin’s creation in 2009, crypto has traded around the clock. There is no opening bell, no after-hours pause, and access is available from anywhere at any hour. At the same time, a younger generation of Australians has grown up expecting instant access to almost everything: messaging, streaming, shopping, banking. It was only a matter of time before they expected the same from investing.On the CMC Invest platform, Bitcoin is currently the seventh most-traded instrument when ETFs are excluded, overtaking NVIDIA, CBA and TSLA.BloombergThis combination of always-open markets and digitally native investors has given rise to a new kind of participant: the always-on investor.On the CMC Invest platform, Bitcoin is currently the seventh most-traded instrument when ETFs are excluded, overtaking NVIDIA, CBA and TSLA (Tesla). Once considered a fringe trend, crypto is now helping redefine the shape of Australian retail investing.CMC Invest data shows this shift is translating into real behaviour. The number of clients making at least one crypto trade climbed 87 per cent from 2024 to 2025, while opt-ins to access crypto increased 19 per cent year-on-year – a strong signal of growing adoption across the client base.Younger Australians are broadening their approach to wealth creation, increasingly using a mix of shares, ETFs and cryptocurrency to invest on their own terms.As participation rises - so does activity. Overall crypto trade count on CMC Invest jumped 89 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by Bitcoin and Ethereum, which recorded increases in trade volumes of 104 per cent and 107 per cent respectively.A new baselineToday’s always-on investor monitors markets throughout the day, across time zones, and across asset classes. They expect real-time data and the ability to move quickly. When a major story breaks on a Saturday night, waiting until Monday morning feels increasingly out of step with modern investing habits. Technology made this possible; crypto simply accelerated it.Weekend trading is one example of this shift. The share of weekend trades on CMC Invest rose 13 per cent year on year for Bitcoin and 16 per cent for Ethereum, reinforcing that investing behaviour is no longer confined to traditional market hours.Younger Australians are also broadening their approach to wealth creation, increasingly using a mix of shares, ETFs and cryptocurrency to invest on their own terms. With cost-of-living pressures persisting and home ownership moving further out of reach for many, investing is becoming a more accessible and flexible pathway to building financial security.No longer purely a retail story, some superannuation funds are beginning to explore digital asset exposure, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) evolving regulatory framework means crypto has evolved beyond market curiosity, now part of live policy conversation.Who is the always-on investor?This shift is most pronounced among younger, higher-earning, digitally confident Australians – precisely the cohort that will define retail investing for the next two decades.Research commissioned by CMC Invest from Investment Trends found that most crypto holders are active traders, not passive holders. That demand is being driven by millennials and accumulators, people who are actively building wealth and expect to stay close to their portfolio while doing it.That demand is showing up clearly in platform behaviour. In 2026, 82 per cent of Bitcoin trades have been buys, and one in five CMC Invest clients are now asking for more crypto options. Far from niche, this is a clear signal from a meaningful share of investors who want greater access and flexibility. They are moving away from schedules built for a different era and towards investing on their own terms.How the industry is respondingMarket operators are starting to take notice. Globally, extended-hours trading is gaining traction. In Australia, the ASX has periodically debated whether trading hours should be expanded.One thing is clear: the evolving market is shaping up to be a fast-moving and challenging environment, offering both opportunity and risk across shares, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. The investors navigating it best are those who want to stay engaged by choosing platforms built for exactly that.The bottom lineCrypto has not only introduced a new asset class – it has helped create a new generation of investors who expect markets to move at the speed of the internet. Those same investors are now applying that expectation to everything else in their portfolio.The traditional boundaries of the trading day are starting to look less like a rule and more like a relic.For platforms, regulators, and investors alike, the question is no longer whether markets need to adapt to the always-on investor. It’s how quickly they can.Kurt Mayell is head of markets ANZ for CMC Markets.Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.More:InvestingCryptocurrenciesBitcoinOnline tradingWorld marketsSpecialist investmentsFrom our partners