Private markets are seeing unprecedented retail inflow right now. Money's coming in fast—but many newcomers are stepping in blind.

Here's the thing nobody talks about: most retail players treat private market entry like they're hopping into crypto. Different beast entirely. The due diligence game is harder. Lock-up periods are brutal. Liquidity doesn't exist like on traditional exchanges.

The real risk? Lack of transparency. You're trusting third parties to evaluate what you're buying into. Regulatory frameworks vary wildly. And if you're allocating without understanding the actual mechanics—token distribution, vesting schedules, market cycles—you're playing with fire.

Retail FOMO is real. But education matters more. Before chasing those juicy private round opportunities, actually understand what you're getting into. The difference between winning and getting wrecked often comes down to knowing what questions to ask.