Bitcoin grew up on forums, so it has its own language. Knowing it makes the community easier to understand.
Common words
- hodl: from a typo in a BitcoinTalk post on 18 December 2013, "I AM HODLING". It means holding for the long term.
- Sats: short for satoshis, the smallest unit. "Stacking sats" means saving small amounts regularly.
- Pizza Day: 22 May, remembering the 10,000 BTC paid for two pizzas in 2010.
- Not your keys, not your coins: if someone else holds the keys, you hold a promise.
- Don't trust, verify: run your own node instead of trusting someone's word.
- Number go up: an ironic phrase about price watching.
- FUD: fear, uncertainty and doubt.
- Shitcoin: a blunt word some bitcoiners use for other tokens.
- Orange-pilled: someone who has come to understand and value Bitcoin.
The serious part
Behind the jokes are real values: patience over speculation, self-custody over trusting institutions, and checking the rules yourself. HODL is the opposite of day trading.
A word of balance
Memes are not analysis. The price can drop a lot, and slogans do not change that. Good bitcoiners keep the humour and still do their homework.
Takeaway
The slang is playful, but most of it points back to a few principles: hold your keys, verify, think long-term.