crypto
HODL
HODL — born from a 2013 forum typo of 'hold' — means keeping cryptocurrency through volatility rather than trading it. It describes a long-term buy-and-hold strategy, often paired with dollar-cost averaging.
The misspelling stuck (later backronymed to "Hold On for Dear Life") because it captures the strategy most long-term bitcoin holders follow: accumulate, secure in cold storage, and ignore drawdowns. Its financial logic mirrors index investing's "time in the market beats timing the market" — though bitcoin's volatility makes the discipline far harder to maintain.
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Related terms
- Satoshi (sat)
- A satoshi is the smallest unit of bitcoin — one hundred-millionth of one BTC (0.00000001 BTC). There are 100,000,000 satoshis in every bitcoin, making small everyday amounts practical to price.
- Cold Storage
- Cold storage keeps cryptocurrency private keys on a device that never touches the internet — typically a hardware wallet — making remote theft practically impossible. It's the standard for securing long-term holdings.
Frequently asked questions
What is HODL?
HODL — born from a 2013 forum typo of 'hold' — means keeping cryptocurrency through volatility rather than trading it. It describes a long-term buy-and-hold strategy, often paired with dollar-cost averaging.