Given how volatile swings are when it comes to cryptocoins, the need to make a decision on HODLING occurs more frequently than with traditional stocks. This is because HODLING is a middle ground where you’re assuming things will work out, instead of putting more money into assets, or selling assets when part of you thinks they could be worth much more tomorrow. Despite the recent high rate of return and the reasons to invest, as mentioned above, prudent investors should also reckon with the risks of holding cryptocurrencies.

  • All you need to do is create and verify your account, deposit funds, and you’re ready to make your first purchase.
  • If you’re looking to cash out quickly, HODLing may not be the right approach for you.
  • In either case, the goal of DCA is to lower an investor’s average cost per coin.
  • Alternative Assets purchased on the Public platform are not held in an Open to the Public Investing brokerage account and are self-custodied by the purchaser.
  • “Pump and dumpers are people who often say, ‘Hey, let’s all of us together pump this coin,’ which means buy the coin, create the demand in the market, the coin will go up in value,” Saddington says.

Other forum participants embraced the misspelling, and it soon became the subject of memes. The week the post was published, the price of Bitcoin dipped nearly 40%, as a result of actions taken by the Chinese central bank. On December 18, 2013, Bitcointalk user GameKyuubi uttered the phrase “I AM HODLING” as part of a rant against the difficulty and even futility of trading cryptocurrency.

Definition and Examples of HODL

Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Different countries and parties express different attitudes towards the use of cryptocurrencies. It can significantly hinder their role in supporting international transactions, affecting the value of cryptocurrencies. Unfavorable policy-making and public perspective might drag down the asset value for the long term. Long-term HODLers may use DCA strategies to add to their position, especially during bear markets.

Apex Clearing Corporation, our clearing firm, has additional insurance coverage in excess of the regular SIPC limits. The HODL strategy, also known as buy-and-hold, involves buying an asset and holding onto it, even if the market becomes unstable. HODLing is based on the idea that, historically speaking, the market will ultimately trend upward.

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HODLing stocks can help investors avoid the instinct to pull out when the market is in decline. By holding stocks for the long term, investors can weather short-term market instability. The HODL strategy is about holding assets over the long term, which means that cryptocurrency investors don’t have to be concerned about timing the market.

  • The trend of financial decentralization and currency digitalization provides room for growth to cryptocurrencies.
  • Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us.
  • Bitcoin has only been around since 2009, giving it a limited long-term track record compared with stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets.
  • The risk here is that not all coins are created equal, and no one can guarantee the future of any crypto and its ability to become a full-fledged currency.
  • The term originated from a 2013 online post to the Bitcointalk forum where the typo appeared.
  • We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers.

Similarly, you can hold a cryptocurrency for an indefinite length of time, through multiple price changes, because you believe that the coin will do well in the future. Based on these principles, the best time to HODL is now, always, and forever. A true believer would always hold on to their tokens, even if markets crash or become extremely volatile.

HODL: A typo that became a crypto investing strategy

When looking for what coins to invest in to HODL, traders and investors can first look at the specific cryptocurrency’s historical chart. Now that you’ve heard some of the arguments for and against the HODL strategy in cryptocurrency trading, you might be wondering whether it’s really worth it. After all, we know that cryptocurrency doesn’t have the same proven track record that the stock market has. The strategy of buying and holding an asset for a long period of time is hardly a new one, and its roots predate the invention of cryptocurrency. HODL is a term used in the cryptocurrency world to describe a buy-and-hold investing strategy. The investment information provided in this table is for informational and general educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment or financial advice.

  • The term ‘HODL’ originated from a post in a Bitcoin forum, where the user accidentally typed ‘hodl’ instead of ‘hold’ during a discussion about trading strategies.
  • Neo from The Matrix asks Morpheus, “What are you trying to tell me, that I can trade my Bitcoin for millions someday?” Morpheus responds, “No Neo, I’m trying to tell you that when you’re ready … you won’t have to.”
  • It takes a lot of emotional strength not to sell a plummeting asset, hoping that it will revert to greater heights.
  • It is a misspelling of “hold,” with an interesting story behind it.
  • Much like the term itself, HODL encourages users to hold onto their tokens for rewards in the Binance coin (BNB) that are distributed every three days.
  • HODL is a term derived from a misspelling of “hold,” in the context of buying and holding Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

With buy-and-hold investing, you generally choose stocks based on a company’s long-term success and prospects. Before investing, review the company’s standing, looking at things like earnings and sales, vision and background of management, and the overall status of the industry. HODLers typically focus on the long-term prospects of digital assets and don’t chase immediate profit. Come back in five years, and you’ll find that some of today’s hottest cryptos never quite made it to the moon, and that diamond-hand hodlers lost a lot of money. There are thousands of cryptocurrencies on the market today, and the number of long-term winners in that group is much smaller. Some cryptocurrencies are jokes, others are money-making frauds, and another group has all the right intentions but flawed technical designs.

How does the Federal Reserve impact stocks, crypto and other investments?

Most importantly, you can store your coins in your free multi-coin wallet that you receive when you sign up. Inspired by the misspelling of HODL, crypto communities also encourage each other to SPEDN (spend) or BUIDL (build). Much like the HODL meme, they’re intended to help grow the crypto space. While the term initially was a direct reference to ‘hold’, in true crypto style, the term was ‘hard forked’ and now carries several meanings. “I believe this is crucial for new investors because they are more likely to act emotionally or impulsively,” Porter says. But Bitcoin’s gains don’t come without years of “HODLing” through stomach-turning losses.

  • Trading digital currency is risky and the price canfluctuate significantly.
  • Others have argued that the stubbornness and close-mindedness of HODL culture is “cult-like,” blinding the community to any legitimate criticisms of Bitcoin as an investment or a currency.
  • And when you’re tempted to sell it, a key question is whether something about your analysis has changed.
  • In contrast, traders are much more active in transactions and seek returns by buying at low prices and selling at high prices.
  • Trying to beat the market by timing reversals is an expert’s game, and most newcomers to crypto are not experienced at doing that.
  • It’s essentially the opposite strategy from day traders trying to maximize their cryptocurrency profits on a short-term basis.

While we adhere to strict
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this post may contain references to products from our partners. Any estimates based on past performance do not a guarantee future performance, and prior to making any investment you should discuss your specific investment needs hexn.io or seek advice from a qualified professional. We introduce people to the world of trading currencies, both fiat and crypto, through our non-drowsy educational content and tools. We’re also a community of traders that support each other on our daily trading journey.

What if you don’t want to HODL? Then it’s time to SPEDN or BUIDL

Learn where the term came from and why it’s a useful approach for amateur traders. It’s essentially the opposite strategy from day traders trying to maximize their cryptocurrency profits on a short-term basis. JSI uses funds from your Treasury Account to purchase T-bills in increments of $100 “par value” (the T-bill’s value at maturity). The value of T-bills fluctuate and investors may receive more or less than their original investments if sold prior to maturity. T-bills are subject to price change and availability – yield is subject to change.

‘HODL,’ ‘whale’ and 5 other cryptocurrency slang terms explained

Crypto is still relatively new, so we can’t look back over time and see how the HODL strategy has performed. Although buy-and-hold may be an effective approach when it comes to investing in stocks, we still don’t know if it works for digital assets. It’s important to consider cryptocurrency volatility in your investment decisions.

Pros and cons of the HODL strategy

It’s important to conduct thorough research and consider seeking financial advice before making any investment decision. Despite the uncertainty, HODLing can be a powerful investment technique for those with an optimistic view of the future of crypto. It takes the guesswork out of timing the crypto markets—so while HODLers may not buy at the absolute “best prices” for their coins, they have the advantage of a long-term time horizon. If the strategy works out in their favor, their assets should be worth more in a few years, regardless of the initial price they paid. Plus, HODLers can add to their positions during bear markets (when prices are falling) because they believe in the future success of the assets. The crypto slang term was originally a misspelling of the word “hold” in a 2013 forum post, but it evolved into an acronym for the phrase “Hold on for dear life,” referring to a buy-and-hold crypto investment strategy.

Why “HODL” Cryptocurrencies

Even Bitcoin, now a relatively stable cryptocurrency, still registers 10-20% moves in some days. To understand and be part of conversations within crypto enthusiast circles, you need to know the community’s lingo. In this guide, we will explain what is ‘HODL,’ which is one of the most prominent terms used by cryptocurrency investors. Also, you’ll get to discover ten other common phrases to use in blockchain forums and chat groups.

Why Should I HODL?

The crypto market crashes that happened in 2018 and 2020 are perfect case studies that support the HODL investing strategy. In December 2017, the price of Bitcoin reached $19,700, but by November 2018 Bitcoin fell to a low of $5,500. Then, from 2018 to middle 2020 the price of Bitcoin (more or less) stayed below $10,000, and rarely broke the $10,000 mark. However, by summer 2020 a bull market began and Bitcoin saw its price go from $10,000 in June to $60,000 by April 2021. It went parabolic, and as a result some day traders made money, but also many people lost out on the action (not the HODLers).

People who HODL crypto must believe their preferred coins will gain widespread adoption (or at least have a net increase in value) while remaining calm amidst significant price swings. The cornerstone of HODL’s appeal is its simplicity—novice investors can understand how to HODL within a few minutes. While big-league investors have the knowledge and resources to capitalize on small price changes and volatility, amateurs are unlikely to predict trends and act on them in time to profit (or minimize losses). When HODLing, buyers research and purchase assets they’re confident in, then hold on to them. JSI and Jiko Bank are not affiliated with Public Holdings, Inc. (“Public”) or any of its subsidiaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

For those who invest in cryptocurrency, HODL has become a banner proclaiming their long-term allegiance to digital currency. These terms stand in contrast to “paper hands,” those who are willing to sell when volatility ratchets higher. The best time to HODL a cryptocurrency is often subjective and depends on various factors, including market conditions, particular cryptocurrencies, and individual financial goals.

What is the difference between HODL and a buy-and-hold strategy?

It refers to a situation when a crypto investor has encountered a massive loss by being on the wrong side of a trade. As we have mentioned before, cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets, and there is a high chance that a trader can lose their investment quickly. HODLing is an investment strategy derived from the traditional financial world where it is referred to as buy and hold.

It may strike you as a misspelling, and you will be right, but within the blockchain space, that spelling is correct. With all the attention, jargon that was once just used for inside jokes in early cryptocurrency chat rooms and on Reddit threads has now become a part of the dialogue. The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site.