Svmuu News: The latest longitudinal study commissioned by the Hong Kong Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) and conducted by the Department of Applied Social Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University shows that herd behavior and emotional trading tendencies among Hong Kong virtual asset investors have declined significantly compared to 2022, but several behavioral biases remain widespread, with the “follow-the-crowd and risk-averse” type remaining the most prevalent investment style. The study surveyed approximately 1,000 virtual asset investors from November to December 2025, and the results were presented in June 2026 at a seminar of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Retail Investor Committee. The data shows that among Hong Kong virtual asset investors, the score for the tendency to blindly follow market trends fell from 3.63 to 3.19, while the scores for mimicking market behavior and chasing rising prices also declined, indicating that investment behavior has become more rational overall following the implementation of the regulatory framework for virtual asset trading platforms in 2023. However, the study also pointed out that several behavioral biases remain significant, including reliance on past experience (3.86), FOMO (3.77), the endowment effect (3.68), the gambler’s fallacy (3.66), and reliance on authority (3.63), indicating that emotions and information continue to play a significant role in investment decisions. In terms of investor segmentation, the “Herd-Following and Risk-Averse Type” accounted for the highest proportion at 33.9%, consisting primarily of young investors aged 18 to 29, with women also representing the highest proportion (43%) among all types. This group is characterized by being easily influenced by market sentiment and tending toward caution and conservatism after incurring losses. Next are the “Stuck-but-Not-Leaving” type (25.5%), mostly mid-level professionals aged 30 to 39, who tend to hold onto their investments for the long term after incurring losses, waiting for a rebound. In addition, the “Confident Risk-Taker” type accounts for 22.2%, consisting mainly of highly educated, high-net-worth men who are prone to overconfidence and increasing their allocation to high-risk assets; the “Fear of Missing Out” type accounts for 18.4%, comprising investors with relatively ample assets but frequent trading activity, who are clearly driven by FOMO. Cui Yongkang, Chair Professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, noted that the virtual asset market is significantly influenced by social media and information dissemination, and investor behavior patterns are complex and diverse. He emphasized that investor education should incorporate behavioral science to enhance investors’ ability to make rational decisions amid market volatility.