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12 Essential Crypto Slang to Get Going


A good introduction to crypto would not be complete without a  glossary of the most popular cryptocurrency terms and phrases. No worries, we have got you covered with these 12 essential slangs, so you can feel at home in any crypto community!




  • ATH


ATH stands for All-Time High, and it is the highest price a coin has ever achieved. 


Example:

The price reached its ATH, now is maybe time to sell!



  • Bear and Bull


When we talk about a cryptocurrency bear market, we are referring to a market situation defined by caution and pessimism during which traders are much more likely to sell than buy.


A cryptocurrency bull market is the opposite of a bear market. So, if the market trend is up, then we are witnessing a bull market, which is generally characterized by optimism and investor confidence.


Example:

Bitcoin reaching $60,000 apiece is a clear example of a cryptocurrency bull market.



  • Buy the Dip


It means to be buying a coin after it has dropped in price.


Example:

His favorite strategy is to buy the dip.



  • Diamond and Paper Hands


The terms describe patient and impatient investors. Paper hands start selling at the first signs of a price fall, while diamond hands are devoted HODLers, who have nerves made of steel.


Example:

Paper hands are massively selling.



  • FOMO


FOMO stands for Fear-of-Missing-Out. It describes a mindset that forces someone to buy or sell crypto out of fear of missing a lifetime opportunity. FOMO is your worst enemy in crypto trading, as most hasty actions can result in great losses.


Example:

You should be blaming your FOMO for this loss.



  • FUD


FUD translates into Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt, and refers to scary make-believe news and rumors spread by individuals or in the media about a currency or a project.


Example:

Don’t believe this article, it looks like FUD!



  • HODL


HODL-ing is a misspelling of “holding” and means saving your coins for a long time, waiting patiently for the price to go to the moon. The term originates from a typo made by a Bitcoin investor in 2013 in one of the old Bitcoin forum chats after a sharp price drop, when he wrote “I AM HODLING” instead of “I am holding”.


Example:

We still HODL the bitcoins we bought back in 2011.



  • Moon and Mooning


A mooning price is one breaking all previous records and making the investors rich. This term is sometimes used by new investors when they see a minor price rise, get excited, and hope for more.


Example:

KGO is headed to the Moon!



  • Pump-and-Dump


Pump-and-dump is a popular scam scheme involving an artificial inflation of the price — a pump — through false and misleading positive statements, to sell — or dump — previously cheaply-purchased assets at a higher price. The price drops sharply as a result, leaving a lot of holders with worthless assets.


Example:

The chart looks like a pump-and-dump.



  • Shill


To shill is to promote a crypto for the purpose of driving it to higher prices.


Example:

Elon Musk is shilling Dogecoin every time he tweets.



  • Whale


Whales hold enormous amounts of crypto. They are the investors who control markets and dictate trends.


Example:

Some whale is certainly responsible for this price rise.



  • When Lambo?


Lambo is short for Lamborghini, high-end cars that typically cost at least $200,000. If you are asking “when Lambo?”, you actually are asking when you are going to get rich, that is, when your favorite crypto is going to the moon. And hopefully for you, that is soon.

New to crypto? This five-step beginners’ guide to the world of cryptocurrency may just be what you need to get started!

What is cryptocurrency?

Blockchain Basics

What are the Different Cryptos Out There?

The History Of Cryptocurrency

12 Essential Crypto Slang to Get Going