The term “HODL”, which originated from a typo by a user of the Bitcointalk forum, has passed through the ages and today serves as a symbol of patience and conviction. A look back at the origin of this original and inseparable expression of Bitcoin (BTC) culture.
An expression that turns into a meme
Whether on French-speaking crypto-Twitter, via sites specializing in Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies or even on dedicated Discord channels, one expression always comes up: “HODL” .
“HODL” … But what can that really express? And where does this expression, now entrenched in the culture of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency maximalists, come from?
Today, Cryptoast tells you how a simple typo turned into a rallying sign for millions of people.
A typo adopted as a mantra
The term “HODL” originally came from a typo by a user named GameKyuubi on the Bitcointalk forum. In the original thread titled ” I AM HODLING “, GameKyuubi wrote in December 2013:
“Why am I holding on? I am going to tell you. It’s because I’m a bad trader and I know I’m a bad trader. »
Original post by GameKyuubi on the Bitcointalk forum
In his message, he explains how, despite the vagaries of the market, he is in control and does not give in to panic . Aware that experienced investors, the “ smart money ”, take BTC sold by weak hands during corrections and capitulations, he proves his determination not to be shaken by the volatility of the price.
“You only sell in a bear market if you are a good day trader or a disillusioned novice. The people in between are holding their own. In a zero-sum game like this, traders can only take your money if you sell. »
During the writing of this text, GameKyuubi repeatedly misspelled the English term “hold” , meaning “to hold”, “to hold”, “to stay strong” or even “to hold on”. Interchanging the letters “l” and “d”, it thus gives rise to a deformed word : “HODL”.
A symbol of patience and firmness
HODL is a widely used term among cryptocurrency investors who refuse to sell their assets despite a sharp drop in price. It is sometimes associated with a powerful stubbornness that characterizes the underlying psychology of this term: do not sell under ANY pretext .
It’s no surprise, then, that the hashtag #hodl flourishes during corrections , when participants hold on to their BTC and rally around the notion of steadfastness and patience to hold on.
Below, we can observe the increasing number of mentions of the term “HODL” as the price of Bitcoin (BTC) progressed through the correction that began in November 2021.
Evolution of the #HODL mention on Twitter – Source: Santiment
