Crypto Investors Have Worrying Personality Traits According to a Study!
In a world where cryptos are often seen as the symbol of financial revolution, a new study reveals a less glorious facet of their owners. Conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and Miami, this survey highlights concerning personality traits among cryptocurrency holders. Narcissism, machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism—these traits, known as the “Dark Tetrad,” seem to predominate among those who invest in these digital assets. These findings, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, raise essential questions about the psychological profile of crypto investors and the deep motivations that drive them to these high-risk investments.
The results of the study
A recent study published in the scientific journal PLOS One, led by Shane Littrell from the University of Toronto, as well as Casey Klofstad and Joseph Uscinski from the University of Miami, reveals troubling personality traits among crypto investors. The researchers surveyed 2,001 American adults in 2022 and found that a third of them owned or had owned cryptocurrencies.
The study highlighted a significant correlation between crypto ownership and the presence of so-called “dark” personality traits, namely narcissism, machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism, collectively referred to as the “Dark Tetrad.”
The authors of the study also observed that crypto holders are predominantly men, with a marked aversion to authoritarianism. This diversified psychological and sociopolitical profile contradicts the widespread idea that cryptocurrencies are mainly the domain of the far-right.
Crypto investors: Between conspiracy and risk-taking
According to the study, crypto investors have a marked preference for alternative social media platforms such as Telegram, Truth Social, and Reddit, over traditional media. The researchers point out that this preference for alternative information channels is one of the strongest predictors of crypto ownership. Similarly, belief in conspiracy theories is significantly more frequent among cryptocurrency investors, which may exacerbate their aversion to authoritarianism and make them more likely to adopt risky financial behaviors.
Furthermore, the researchers estimate that crypto owners are often men with an argumentative attitude and above-average income. These traits, combined with their narcissistic, machiavellian, psychopathic, and sadistic tendencies, drive them to unconventional and potentially dangerous financial behaviors. This combination of psychological and behavioral factors can increase their risk tolerance, pushing them to aggressively invest in volatile assets like cryptos.
Ultimately, although rigorous, this shocking study is based on correlations that do not necessarily apply to all investors. Many crypto owners may invest responsibly and not exhibit the mentioned psychological characteristics. Therefore, these results should be interpreted cautiously and not be generalized to the entire crypto investor community.
