New data shows that cryptocurrency investors are increasingly turning to stocks and precious metals through their existing exchange accounts, with Gate platform’s trading composition shifting significantly. According to analysis shared by CryptoQuant, traditional finance (TradFi) instruments, which previously accounted for a negligible portion of total volume, reached a noticeable and growing share by 2026.
Trading composition shifts toward TradFi
The data reveals that futures trading continues to command nearly 80% of total volume on Gate. In contrast, spot trading, which made up around 35% at the start of 2025, has sunk to low double-digit percentages. The resulting gap has largely been filled by the rising share of traditional finance products.
CryptoQuant analyst MorenoDV_ emphasizes that this trend is not simply the result of a one-off product launch. The analysis notes that although TradFi volume experienced several sharp expansions, it consistently remained well above its initial levels even after each pullback, signaling that users are repeatedly returning to these products.
MorenoDV_ highlights in his assessment that while futures maintain their dominance at around 80% of Gate’s trading, the TradFi side expanded from near zero to a visible and growing band throughout 2026 based on Gate’s own figures.
The report suggests that macroeconomic headlines may be driving this shift. When stocks, commodity prices, or monetary policy expectations send stronger signals than crypto assets, investors are choosing to diversify within the same platform by moving to different instruments.
Mini glossary: TradFi refers to “traditional finance” and covers classic products such as stocks, commodities, and bonds. Fractional trading allows investors to buy and sell portions of an asset rather than the whole.
USDT-based access streamlines diversification
Gate is recognized as a major crypto trading platform. The analysis notes that its USDT-based access, fractional trading features, and support for US equity products enabled users to switch positions without moving funds to another brokerage, making diversification much simpler.
Metals take the lead while stocks draw selective interest
Among traditional finance products, gold and silver-linked instruments attracted the highest trading volumes. Metal-trading codes such as XAU, XAG, and XAUT were reported to represent the majority of these trades. This demand may be linked to investors seeking safe haven positions during uncertain periods in the crypto market.
| Category | Top instruments | Volume trend |
|---|---|---|
| Metals | XAU, XAG, XAUT | Leading TradFi volume |
| Stocks | Products linked to Nvidia, Tesla, Circle, Coinbase | Lower share, strategic interest |
| Oil | Not specified | Relatively small share |
Oil products maintained a relatively minor share within TradFi trading volumes. Although stocks contributed less overall, there was notable interest in companies from the technology, artificial intelligence, and crypto sectors. Products linked to Nvidia, Tesla, Circle, and Coinbase drew consistent trading flows.
The analysis notes that while stock volumes remain sensitive to news, the fact that activity is spread across multiple tickers suggests it is not simply short-term speculative trading.
The data indicates that crypto users are not abandoning risk altogether, but instead are broadening the range of instruments they use within a single platform. MorenoDV_ characterizes this evolution as a structural shift in investor behavior rather than merely a curiosity about new products.
