Are you a new crypto fanatic scouring through online crypto communities and finding yourself lost in a sea of confusing acronyms, misspelled terms, and random memes? You’re definitely not alone—many newcomers have had the same experience.
In this guide, is a list of common crypto slang terms and their meanings to help you navigate these discussions with confidence. From FOMO (Fear of missing out) and FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) to the quirky laser eyes and whales, you’ll be equipped to join in on the conversation without feeling like a total nocoiner.
With this handy reference, you’ll be ready to engage in any crypto chat and impress your peers with your newfound knowledge.
FOMO
FOMO is an abbreviation for Fear of Missing Out; it is generally felt when a crypto is rising in value so most people jumped in on the bandwagon to not be left out. FOMO may create emotional trading and poor decision-making; it’s risky as hindsight is 20/20, and it’s all too easy to lament the gains you might have made if only you had timed all your transactions precisely. (Nobody timed all of their deals exactly.)
Having a plan and following it will help you to lower FOMO, particularly if you think the item you are investing in will appreciate over time. One popular strategy to avoid FOMO is dollar-cost averaging, often known as DCA, is a in which you invest the same amount each week or month free from market concerns.
It removes the anxiety and frustration components of choosing the right time to invest and also prevents impulsive investment decisions based on short-term market movements.
HODL
The term “HODL,” pronounced as “Hoddle,” simply refers to buying and holding for the long haul, regardless of market movements. HODL was born out of amusement after a spelling error by a crypto fan. In December 2023, when the bitcoin price faltered, a member of the official message board made a post with a spelling error in the subject line: “I AM HODLING.” What he truly meant was that he was “holding,” keeping his stack of bitcoin even after short-term price corrections.
Bitcoin enthusiasts took the post and turned it into a meme, changing the acronym HODL to “hold on for dear life.” When bitcoin prices drop, the term is used to discourage selling and encourage riding it out until prices rise again. Selling your crypto asset in the spur of moment instead of holding on it for dear life is considered as a faux pas within the crypto community.
Although there have been several bull and bear cycles in the cryptocurrency space, HODL has, at least thus far, been sound advice, with Bitcoin emerging as one of the best-performing assets of the decade.
Diamond Hands
The phrase “diamond hands” describes cryptocurrency traders who hold regardless of the state of the digital asset they are holding. Diamond Hands, Or 💎🙌, as Elon Musk stated in a tweet from May, is popularized by the Reddit community of cryptocurrency and stock traders.
Online groups that have united in attempting to raise the price of a memecoin or other asset frequently use it, which implies strict adherence to the HODL philosophy. (The similar but disparaging term for cautious traders? “Paper hands”/🧻🤲. )
WHEN LAMBO
Making quick money is the goal of many Bitcoin users. “When Lambo” means “When will you buy a Lamborghini?” In other words, when will you become absurdly wealthy using Bitcoin?
FUD
“Fear, uncertainty, and doubt,” shortened to “FUD,” is a generic finanace term used by the bitcoin community. It’s a traditional public relations and propaganda strategy. The goal is to strategically provide information that alters the public impression of a product, technology, or candidate.
Other scenarios include the habit of talking up a cryptocurrency you own in order to increase its price or fostering dissension among other coin owners in order to drive down the price and acquire it cheaply.
Sometimes, it simply means “Facts You Dislike.” In the face of FUD, what should you do? Adopt DYOR, another well-known crypto acronym.
DYOR
“Do your own research” (DYOR) is a popular pearl of wisdom that suggests you should think independently and make your own decisions instead of blindly adhering to the wisdom of the masses. You risk getting rekt if you don’t DYOR.
REKT
What happens if you get caught up in FOMO and become a victim of a pump and dump? You get rekt. Getting rekt in its original game context is to lose severely, and the concept is almost the same in cryptocurrency.
Derived from the term “wrecked,” you might argue that a cryptocurrency investor was rekt when they made a disastrous investment, such as selling their bitcoin just before it skyrocketed in price.
Laser eyes
In 2021, Bitcoin supporters began to show their love for the cryptocurrency by adding “laser eyes” to their Twitter photos. Some of the renowned personalities who have participated include NFL legend Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, Wyoming senator Cynthia Lummis, MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, and Elon Musk. The meme is frequently connected with the hashtag #LaserRayUntil100K, signifying support for the cryptocurrency’s ability to surpass $100,000, which now doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
Pump and dump
Pump and dump involves a united front to artificially raise the value of an asset and cash out before it plummets down to earth. Cryptocurrencies with lesser market capitalizations are more vulnerable to pump-and-dump scams.
A gang of traders will work together to raise the price of a certain small-cap cryptocurrency. As prices climb, schemers will publicize the offer on Twitter, Reddit, Discord, Facebook, YouTube comments, and other platforms, enticing new investors and pushing the price even higher. When the asset reaches its goal value, the founding group will cash out, reaping large gains while leaving everyone else “holding the bag” as the token collapses.
Moon (or mooning)
Traders often refer to a cryptocurrency as “going to the moon” or “mooning” when it is experiencing significant upward momentum.
Whale
The largest cryptocurrency holdings are known as whales. Anyone who has more than 1000 BTC is termed a whale in the Bitcoin community. Unlike the overwhelming majority of crypto traders, whales have the ability to affect markets via their transactions. According to bitinfocharts.com, the top 100 Bitcoin addresses (out of over 800,000 active ones) accounted for more than 20% of total BTC as of mid-May 2021.
Nocoiner
Someone who doesn’t possess any Bitcoin and frequently despises the whole cryptocurrency community is known as a nocoiner. Although anybody without cryptocurrency can use the word, it is usually used to describe people who are doubtful or cynical about the movement of digital money.
The Flippening
The Flippening is a fascinating idea that describes a possible change in the crypto market. It refers to the time when Bitcoin may lose its top cryptocurrency position and be replaced by an alternative such as Ethereum.
BAG Holder
Crypto fans took this word from the stock market. A bag holder in stock trading is someone who holds onto their shares for an extended period of time only to have them lose a lot of value. In the crypto world, it carries a similar meaning: if you buy a bunch of altcoins and wait too long to sell, you could end up with empty pockets while still holding onto a worthless investment.
Conclusion
Getting to know crypto slang is important for success in this world. Terms like FOMO, HODL, and DYOR help you make better choices and join the conversation. So keep exploring, stay curious, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
