Google Trends data show global searches for the word “crypto” have climbed to their highest level in four years, surpassing the peaks recorded during the 2021 bull market. Market strategists say the spike signals a resurgence of retail interest in digital assets after a prolonged lull. The jump in online curiosity comes alongside broader evidence that individual investors are gravitating toward riskier corners of financial markets. According to commentary cited by the Wall Street Journal, record amounts of cash are pouring into leveraged exchange-traded funds, while options activity has accelerated. Separately, the return of the self-styled “SPAC King” to deal-making, and the resurgence of meme stocks and fast-rising initial public offerings, underscore the shift in sentiment. Analysts warn that the renewed exuberance resembles late-cycle patterns seen in previous market run-ups. Bitcoin and Ether are both trading near their historical highs, and Barron’s has cautioned that the revival of SPACs, meme stocks and speculative IPOs could foreshadow heightened volatility if economic or policy conditions change.