The U.S. military is experiencing a surge in investment enthusiasm, with technology stocks and cryptocurrencies as the main investment directions

According to the Wall Street Journal, a strong investment culture is sweeping through the U.S. military. From tech stocks to cryptocurrencies, military camps are becoming a unique "investment club."

The report states that this trend is significantly changing the financial situation of service members. The number of Porsches and Hummers in military base parking lots is increasing, and social media influencers in uniform are teaching their followers how to get rich. However, this phenomenon also comes with significant market risks, as some service members' high leverage and concentrated positions have raised concerns about their financial situations in the event of a market downturn.

The article showcases the high-risk nature of military investments through several cases. The story of Coast Guard petty officer Bryson Saunders is quite representative. He entered the market after hearing his comrades brag about making money on Dogecoin, subsequently investing in Bitcoin and Meme stocks like GameStop, candidly stating, "I was trying to punch my ticket."

Navy Major Zach Rodriguez, influenced by his peers while cruising the Pacific on an aircraft carrier, invested half of his family's savings (over $100,000) into cryptocurrencies like Chainlink. He experienced asset surges but also suffered a painful loss of $250,000 due to a cryptocurrency scam. Now, he describes himself as a "bitcoin and chill" investor, holding approximately $1 million in Bitcoin and related company assets.

The article analyzes IRS data and finds that the U.S. military played an important role in the cryptocurrency market cycle from 2020 to 2021. The data shows that in 2021, 11 of the top 25 U.S. postal code areas with the highest percentage of individual income tax returns reporting cryptocurrency receipts or disposals were located around military bases. The participation rate of taxpayers in some military bases is more than four times the national average.