Why Cutting Out the Middlemen is Winning Over a New Generation

Today, the way we engage with our finances has completely changed.

Unlike our parents, who trusted banks and advisors for every financial decision, we now make these choices ourselves. With AI and endless information at our fingertips, our generation doesn’t wait around—we’re used to instant answers, and we expect the same in every part of our lives.

Platforms like Robinhood understand this well. They aren’t just a trading app; they’ve crafted a secure, user-friendly space with features that keep users engaged. During the pandemic, their simple, intuitive design onboarded millions of new investors to the markets. But what’s remarkable is how they’ve kept users engaged. They have educational resources and events to help users progress from novice to advanced traders and features for expressing opinions on public issues, like election predictions. Robinhood also offers tools to manage most of your personal finances in one place, including debit and credit cards, high-yield savings, and retirement accounts.

Another great example is Bilt, a credit card that lets you pay rent and earn points you can redeem for travel, dining, and local experiences. By turning rent payments into something rewarding, Bilt has created a platform people want to use daily. It’s not just a tool for paying bills. It’s a way to engage with the world around you.

I recently joined Propy, where we aim to make buying a home as simple as trading a stock on Robinhood. If you’ve ever gone through the home-buying process, you know how outdated it feels—paperwork, delays, middlemen. As a generation that lived through the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic, we’re done with slow, bureaucratic processes. We’re used to having information instantly and want the same ease and speed when making big life decisions. Imagine a future where your home is in your Apple Wallet, with easily managed repairs, paperwork, and payments. Need a roof repair? The blockchain could connect you with a trusted contractor, and payment could be handled automatically once the job is done. The transparency and efficiency of blockchain offer a solution to the delays and middlemen we’re tired of, and our recent Spaces on X with Grant Cardone validated this. Cardone voiced his doubts about establishing property rights on the blockchain. But here’s the thing: 50 years ago, floor traders couldn’t fathom instant access to markets by the retail masses without them.

The pace of change is incredible, and with the younger generation’s demand for speed and transparency, property rights on the blockchain aren’t a far-off fantasy—it’s the future. We’re ready to use blockchain in more ways, and I intend to discuss ways I think we can onboard and engage users in these ecosystems at Benzinga’s Future of Digital Assets in NYC on November 19. See you there!