When trillions of dollars vanished from the stock market in early April, Dan Oksnevad didn’t flinch. In fact, he doubled down—on bitcoin.
“It’s just a screaming buying opportunity,” said Oksnevad, who holds about 90% of his seven-figure portfolio—including retirement savings—in the cryptocurrency and related stocks like bitcoin buyer Strategy. “I’m running straight into it.”
The 37-year-old marketing director shrugged off bitcoin’s 6% drop that day. What others saw as a red flag, he saw as green lights.
“That’s what I’m after—making decades of returns in weeks or months,” he said. “I truly think volatility is where fortunes are made.”
Going Long on Risk
Wall Street veterans have been left baffled by the current climate—markets are swinging 5% one day and 10% the next. Many investors have rushed to safety: cash, gold, and defensive plays. But not everyone.
A small group of young, aggressive traders are taking the opposite route. They’re leaning in—buying short-term options, doubling down on single stocks, and hoping the same chaos that can destroy portfolios will make theirs skyrocket.
A Generation Raised on Volatility
The “Robinhood generation” that started trading in 2020 is now facing its first major market meltdown. While the 2022 downturn was tough, it was short-lived. Markets soon rebounded to record highs.
Now, some rookies say they’ve been waiting for this moment—stocks at what they believe are steep discounts.
No Risk, No ‘Rari
“The kids these days say, ‘No risk, no ‘rari,’” said Patrick Wieland, a day trader and content creator who’s been throwing thousands into ProShares UltraPro QQQ—a triple-leveraged ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100.
That ETF saw double-digit gains during a historic April 9 rally, but it’s still down more than 20% this month.
“I think you’ve got to be aggressive,” he said. “When you have such big swings in the market, it’s hard to be risk averse.”
Dip-Buying Isn’t a Sure Thing
The S&P 500 hasn’t exactly rewarded dip-buyers. According to Dow Jones Market Data, on average the index has kept falling in the week following a one-day drop of 1% or more in 2025.
Some analysts warn the worst may not be over.
They’re worried Trump’s trade policies could bring about a recession—or even stagflation, where economic growth stalls while inflation surges. Tariffs could hit corporate earnings, traditionally a key engine of market growth.
Embracing the Gamble
Some traders aren’t sugarcoating their moves.
Kiel Elliott, an entertainment executive from Los Angeles, dropped around $40,000 on GameStop call options in early April.
Elliott admits he’s a “degenerate gambler.”
“I’m probably losing years off my life,” he said. “I’m enjoying the ride right now. I need to remind myself I could lose it all tomorrow.”
GameStop shares are up 25% this month.
Calculated Chaos
Others are more strategic in their risk-taking.
Atlanta entrepreneur Will Seaman, 20, split two-thirds of his entire portfolio between Recursion Pharmaceuticals and EV maker Lucid on April 10, when tariff fears tanked markets.
He bet that both would respond sharply to trade headlines—and he was right, at least in part. Recursion soared nearly 30% the next day, and Seaman cashed out.
“I saw it as a great opportunity to just ride the roller coaster,” he said. “Typically I’m not a super risk-forward trader.”
Between Two Selves
Seaman describes his inner conflict as a battle between “my irresponsible gambler and my wise old investor.”
After unsettling comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, he pivoted.
On Thursday, he moved his money into blue-chip stocks he believes can withstand a recession.
“I’m not opposed to buying in again at a lower price,” he said of his earlier bets. “But I do see that price going lower.