Crypto Community Slang and Common Phrases
Let’s start with 13 frequently used crypto slang terms in trading communities. Most originate from English abbreviations, reflecting traders' attitudes toward market volatility.
GM/GN
- GM = "Good Morning"
- GN = "Good Night"
These greetings symbolize crypto culture’s camaraderie, often used in Telegram, Discord, and Twitter (X) crypto circles.
FOMO
Fear of Missing Out – The anxiety of missing profit opportunities. Many investors rush into trades during price surges due to FOMO, often leading to impulsive decisions.
DYOR
Do Your Own Research – Encourages independent analysis before investing, avoiding blind reliance on hype or rumors.
FUD
Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt – False negativity spread to manipulate prices. Scammers use FUD to trigger panic selling, then buy assets cheaply. Always DYOR to counter FUD!
Airdrop
Free distribution of new tokens to promote projects. Airdrops boost visibility, user engagement, and liquidity.
LFG
Let’s Fucking Go! – A rallying cry during price surges or project successes, often paired with 🚀 (rocket) or 🌕 (moon) emojis.
WAGMI/NGMI
- WAGMI: "We All Gonna Make It" – Optimism about long-term success.
- NGMI: "Not Gonna Make It" – Self-deprecating humor for poor decisions.
BTD/BTFD
Buy The Dip / Buy The Fucking Dip – Purchasing assets during price drops, anticipating future rebounds.
HODL
Hold On for Dear Life – Holding assets despite market downturns. Originated from a misspelled "HOLD" in a Bitcoin forum post.
Diamond Hands vs. Paper Hands
- Diamond Hands: Holding steadfastly through volatility.
- Paper Hands: Selling prematurely due to fear.
Bitcoin Maximalist
Investors who believe Bitcoin is superior to all other cryptocurrencies.
Discord (DC)
A hub for NFT and crypto communities to collaborate and share updates.
Mint
Creating/launching an NFT for the first time.
Crypto Market and Trading Terms
Bear/Bull Market
- Bear Market: Prolonged price declines.
- Bull Market: Sustained price rallies.
ATH/ATL
- ATH: All-Time High (highest historical price).
- ATL: All-Time Low (lowest historical price).
Liquidity
Ease of trading without impacting prices. High liquidity = stable markets.
Circulating Supply
Total coins available for trading.
Market Cap
Market Capitalization = Price × Circulating Supply.
APY
Annual Percentage Yield – Estimated yearly earnings, including compound interest.
Fiat
Government-issued currencies (e.g., USD, EUR).
Whales
Large investors/entities holding significant crypto assets.
Moon/Mooning
Rapid price surges ("to the moon!").
Shill
Aggressive promotion, often exaggerated or misleading.
Rekt
Slang for suffering major losses ("wrecked").
Trading Strategies
Spot Trading
Buying/selling crypto at current market prices.
Perpetual Contracts (PERP)
Leveraged derivatives with no expiry.
C2C Trading
Peer-to-peer transactions via exchanges.
Staking
Locking crypto to support blockchains and earn rewards.
Yield Farming
Providing liquidity to earn token incentives.
Exchange Terms
CEX vs. DEX
- CEX: Centralized exchanges (e.g., Binance).
- DEX: Decentralized exchanges (e.g., Uniswap).
Liquidity Pool (LP)
Funds pooled by users to enable trading.
Hot/Cold Wallets
- Hot Wallet: Internet-connected (convenient).
- Cold Wallet: Offline storage (secure).
Wallet Address
Unique identifier for sending/receiving crypto.
Seed Phrase
12–24-word backup to restore wallets.
Deposit/Withdrawal
Moving fiat/crypto into/out of exchanges.
Trading Fees
Costs per transaction (varies by platform).
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Crypto Types & Units
Bitcoin (BTC)
The first and most valuable cryptocurrency.
Altcoins
All cryptocurrencies except Bitcoin.
Stablecoins
Pegged to fiat (e.g., USDT = $1).
Meme Coins
Community-driven tokens (e.g., Dogecoin).
Satoshi (SATS)
0.00000001 BTC.
Gwei
0.000000001 ETH.
Scams & Risks
Rug Pull
Developers abandon projects after fundraising.
Pump and Dump
Artificially inflate prices, then sell off.
KYC/AML
Identity verification (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks.
Blockchain Tech
Smart Contracts
Self-executing agreements on blockchains.
DeFi
Decentralized financial services (loans, swaps).
NFTs
Unique digital ownership certificates.
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FAQs
1. What does HODL mean?
HODL means holding crypto long-term, regardless of market dips.
2. How to avoid FOMO trading?
Stick to a strategy, set limits, and always DYOR.
3. Are airdrops free money?
Some require tasks (e.g., social media engagement); others are scams. Research first!
4. What’s the safest wallet?
Cold wallets (e.g., Ledger) for long-term storage; hot wallets for frequent trades.
5. How do whales manipulate markets?
By moving large volumes to trigger price swings.
6. Is yield farming risky?
Yes—impermanent loss and smart contract bugs are potential risks.
Master these terms to navigate crypto like a pro! 🚀