INVESTING OR GAMBLING? DIGITAL RISKS, CRYPTO-ASSETS, AND YOUTH IN THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE (2010–2025)

Abstract

This paper synthesizes the scientific literature on financial education aimed at youth, focusing on the convergence between the crypto-asset market and online gambling. The central problem lies in the rapid digitalization of youths’ financial habits, which has transformed speculative investments into gamified, high-risk activities. The objective of the study was to map the intellectual structure of this field and identify gaps in the contemporary scientific literature. Methodologically, a survey was conducted in the Scopus database covering the period from 2010 to 2025, resulting in a sample of 6,221 articles analyzed using VOSviewer software. The results revealed the formation of thematic clusters focused on behavioral pathologies, blockchain infrastructure, and risk-taking behavior in adolescents. A significant gap was identified in Brazilian research output, which still prioritizes traditional school-based financial education to the detriment of preventive approaches to digital risks. It is concluded that current financial literacy is insufficient in the face of betting algorithms, and that the inclusion of digital risk literacy in educational curricula is urgently needed to prevent financial and mental health harms among youth.