The Secret Market

We've seen evidence in the previous two posts that the market is biased against middle- and lower-class investors (sometimes known as "retail investors"). Whether it's preferable to a sizable portion of the stock trading market that the majority of people don't even have access to is up for debate. According to DR Barton Jr.'s research from May 2020, 53 private equity firms trade stock without allowing the general public access, frequently in unmarked structures situated in suburban districts.

These private exchanges are hosting transactions that are neither infrequent nor trivial. According to reports, 42% of all stock trading take place through these companies. The sums represent exchange accounts worth hundreds of billions from 110 firms. Since 2005, it has operated in a completely legal manner, while receiving a dubious amount of public attention or responsibility.