Meme Stock Mania
On January 28, 2021, GameStop (GME) reached $483 per share — up from $20 at the start of the month — as Reddit's WallStreetBets forum coordinated a historic short squeeze against hedge funds who had bet against the struggling retailer.
Was This Written in the Numbers?
Universal Year 5 is the wildcard — unpredictable, fast-moving and prone to sudden reversals. Events in 5 years shock markets with their speed. The system demands freedom from old constraints, often violently.
What the Numbers Said
Robinhood halted trading in GME, triggering congressional hearings and a broader debate about market fairness. Melvin Capital lost 53% in January. The episode democratized the idea of coordinated retail trading.
The internet reorganized market power. For a brief moment, individual retail traders wielded institutional force — and the systems designed to prevent that response became the story.