HODL
Crypto slang for holding assets long-term rather than trading, originating from a misspelled 'hold' in a 2013 Bitcoin forum post.
In-Depth Explanation
HODL became a philosophy: resist the urge to sell during volatility, believe in long-term appreciation. While holding can outperform active trading (especially after fees and taxes), HODL culture can also become an excuse to avoid reevaluating positions or taking profits. The term has been backronymed to 'Hold On for Dear Life.'
Related Terms
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New tokens distributed by a protocol as incentives, typically to liquidity providers or users.
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Earning token rewards by providing liquidity to a DeFi protocol.
Token Buyback
When a protocol uses revenue to purchase its own token from the open market, reducing circulating supply.
Dividend
Direct distribution of protocol revenue to tokenholders, typically in ETH, stablecoins, or the protocol's native token.