The vision of an eToro investor betting on technology and discipline

• (Interview with Lena Birse, Popular Investor, eToro platform)

In a climate dominated by geopolitical uncertainties, macroeconomic pressures, and abrupt capital movements, investment decisions require more rigor than ever. In March - a symbol of balance and new beginnings, but also the month dedicated to women - Lena Birse speaks about the importance of consistency, diversification, and high-quality companies within a portfolio focused on technology and artificial intelligence. The UK-based investor explained in an interview why she remains optimistic about 2026, how she reallocated capital from crypto assets into stock market indices, and which tools she uses to navigate market cycles with both caution and confidence.

A full-time trader, Lena Birse is a Popular Investor (investors whose trades are automatically copied by other investors) on the eToro platform and has been investing in the stock markets for more than ten years, following a long-term strategy and holding her positions for as long as possible, with periodic rebalancing.

Reporter: How do you see the investment market evolving in the particularly harsh geostrategic and macroeconomic conditions we are currently experiencing?

Lena Birse: Markets will always move in cycles-at times favouring stocks, and at other times different asset classes. My strategy is to buy and hold growth stocks for many years. Because of this, geostrategic and macroeconomic conditions do not heavily influence my decisions; I believe that high-quality companies can navigate all market cycles over time. I do, however, pay close attention to political policy, as it can directly affect how companies are able to grow and prosper.

Reporter: How do you feel as an investor at the moment and what is the market sentiment now?

Lena Birse:I am feeling very optimistic about the market outlook for 2026. We have just seen earnings results from many of the major technology companies, and overall performance has been strong. These results demonstrate that their businesses remain healthy, continue to grow, and are still investing heavily in expanding their AI infrastructure - which is encouraging for investors like us who maintain a technology- and AI-focused portfolio.

In addition, markets are anticipating further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in 2026. Lower rates are generally supportive for equities, as they can signal easing inflation pressures and improved conditions for economic growth.

Reporter: Were there situations or moments when you withdrew your money from one asset and invested it in another (which assets are losing and which are winning)?

Lena Birse: Yes, I reduced part of my Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings around the middle of 2025. At the time, I felt the rapid price appreciation was becoming unsustainable and that a pullback was likely, which has since materialised.

I may consider increasing my positions again if and when the risk-reward profile justifies additional exposure to crypto assets.

The proceeds from those sales were reinvested into the VTI Index (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund) to increase diversification. Given that technology stocks represent a significant portion of my portfolio, this move helps broaden my overall market exposure and reduce concentration risk.

Reporter: What was the biggest disappointment, from an investment point of view, in 2025?

Lena Birse: I didn't experience any major disappointments in 2025, as it was a strong year for my portfolio. I achieved a return exceeding 20% for the year, which I consider a very solid result. This performance was driven by disciplined ownership of fundamentally strong holdings. Outcomes like this typically reflect a sound investment process, appropriate risk exposure, and the benefits of compounding rather than short-term speculation.

Reporter: Which investment areas have caught your attention this year?

Lena Birse: Gold and silver have been reaching new all-time highs. While I don't invest in precious metals within my portfolio, I do own some jewellery that I'm not particularly attached to, and I'm considering selling it while prices are elevated. It's not something people often think about, but it's another practical way to benefit from strong metal prices.

Reporter: What products, tools, service on the platform do you use or find very helpful? What are the most important features an online platform can offer?

Lena Birse: As a long-term buy-and-hold investor, my focus is on the fundamentals of the companies I own. eToro offers features that significantly support my research, such as the earnings calendar, Wall Street analysts' views, and price targets, which I use to challenge and validate my own analysis. The platform also has an excellent social feed where many investors share insights and research on a wide range of stocks and other assets.

Reporter: What is your investment strategy for 2026?

Lena Birse: I plan to continue holding my stocks for the long term, as I always have, while rebalancing when I believe it's necessary. For example, if a company no longer demonstrates the growth potential I originally expected, I may trim the position or exit entirely and reinvest the funds into another business where I believe the opportunity is stronger.

Reporter: Thank You!