HODL
HODL is crypto slang for "hold long term no matter how much the price swings"; it originated from a typo of "hold" in a forum post in 2013.
Explained simply
In 2013, in the middle of a crash, a user wrote an agitated post titled "I AM HODLING". The typo became a catchphrase for the stance of not selling in a crisis.
Behind it is an investment philosophy familiar outside crypto too: buy and hold. It bets that long-term development matters more than short-term fluctuation.
HODL is no rule for everything. For projects without substance, holding is no advantage.
From the familiar world
The equity saver who keeps a fund savings plan running through every crisis and does not check the balance. In the crypto world this stance got its own name.
An example
Anyone who held Bitcoin through a full four-year cycle has historically sat out every interim crisis. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Why it matters
The term shows up in news and client conversations. Knowing it and translating it as "buy and hold" meets clients where they already have experience.
To pass on
„HODL is just crypto slang for buy and hold: hold through the crisis instead of selling at the bottom.“
The content of this wiki is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, an investment recommendation or tax or legal advice. Digital assets are subject to strong price fluctuations and can lead to losses up to a total loss. Content as of 2026, no guarantee of completeness or timeliness.
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