Blockchain communities have a very strong sense of the insiders and the outsiders, who can often be distinguished from each other based on language. Knowing how to speak cryptoslang will help get you in the door.
FUDFear, uncertainty and doubt — FUD — are the greatest risks for an investor. News media and naysayers often spread FUD. Cryptocurrency prices in 2018 have been absurd, changing by the minute and building and destroying fortunes, so FUD is common.
HODLHold, typed very fast, as if in a panic, to indicate: Do not sell. Originally a typo, it then became an acronym — hold on for dear life. Someone who is hodling is someone who is not disturbed by FUD.
LAMBOYou aren’t supposed to show wealth because it means you’ve sold your cryptocurrency and you weren’t a true believer. The only exception is a Lamborghini, which because of a series of memes has become a symbol within the cryptocurrency world of absurdity and success.
MOONING / THE MOONA coin’s price is spiking when it’s mooning. The moon is the most optimistic price projection, and Hodlmoon is a crypto-themed clothing line named after the idea of holding until the price soars. There’s a negative connotation that potentially the run is fake, the coin is being pumped and the price will crash.
PUMP AND DUMPInvestment syndicates will organize on Telegram or Slack to buy large amounts of a particular coin (the pump), to create the illusion of real demand, causing a buying frenzy, and as the coin soars, they will sell (the dump).
FIATFiat currency is money declared legal tender by a government. It’s normal money, U.S. dollars and such. Typically referred to in a dismissive way.
NOCOINERSomeone who does not own any cryptocurrency. This is often modified by the adjective “bitter.”
FLIPPENINGThe point at which Bitcoin gets replaced by another currency as the top cryptocurrency on the market.
WHALEA big-money investor. Whales form exclusive “whale clubs,” chat rooms to coordinate investment syndicates. The whale has become a symbol of success, featured on crypto-themed clothing and knickknacks.
