Bybit CEO Ben Zhou reports retail crypto participation down ~30% from peaks, attributes decline to normal market cycles, expects AI to drive next wave of adoption.
Macro & Markets ·
Bybit CEO Ben Zhou stated that retail crypto participation may be roughly 30% below peak levels, remarks he made during an April 15, 2026 interview at Paris Blockchain Week. He characterized the decline as a normal market cycle adjustment rather than an exceptional downturn.
Zhou identified meme coins as the primary driver of the previous market cycle and suggested that artificial intelligence could serve as the catalyst for the next wave of activity. He framed current market conditions as a waiting period for a new catalyst to emerge and stimulate broader participation.
The statement does not specify the timeframe over which the 30% decline occurred, nor does it quantify absolute retail participation numbers or address whether declines are uniform across regions or asset types.