Futures Dominate, TradFi Fills the Gap
CryptoQuant analyst MorenoDV_ reports a marked shift in Gate's trading composition during 2026: traditional finance (TradFi) product volumes surged, while spot trading slid from roughly 35% in early 2025 to low double-digit percentages. Futures trading maintained its near 80% grip on total volume, but the fastest-growing segment was TradFi, which started from near zero.
Structural Shift, Not a Flash in the Pan
MorenoDV_ stresses that this is not a one-off product launch effect. Data shows TradFi volumes have spiked sharply several times, yet after each pullback they remained well above initial levels — users keep returning to these products. He characterizes the trend as a structural change in investor behavior rather than mere curiosity. Gate's own figures confirm that TradFi's share expanded from negligible to a persistent, visible band throughout 2026.
Macro Signals Drive On-Platform Diversification
What is fueling this shift? The report points to macro headwinds. When stocks, commodity prices, or monetary policy expectations send stronger signals than crypto assets, investors opt to switch instruments on the same platform without moving funds elsewhere. Gate's USDT-based access, fractional trading, and support for US equity products lower the barriers to diversification, allowing users to buy bits of traditional assets with stablecoins.
Metals Lead, Stocks and Oil Play Smaller Roles
Among TradFi products, precious metals drew the highest volumes. Instruments tied to gold and silver (codes XAU, XAG, XAUT) accounted for the majority of TradFi trades, likely driven by safe-haven demand during crypto volatility. On the equity side, products linked to Nvidia, Tesla, Circle, and Coinbase attracted steady, diversified flows, suggesting the activity is not short-term speculation. Oil products held a relatively minor share in the mix.
MorenoDV_ concludes that crypto users are not abandoning risk altogether — instead, they are broadening the range of instruments they use within a single platform. He frames this evolution as a structural shift in investor behavior that goes far beyond idle curiosity about new products.