Cryptocurrency is a rapidly growing industry, and with it comes its own language. If sometimes you find yourself overwhelmed by all the jargon, you're in luck: this article is here to help. We'll be exploring some of the most interesting slang terms used in the crypto world and what they mean. So let's get started!
What is crypto slang and what is it for
Crypto slang, also known as cryptocoin slang, is a set of informal terms and phrases used to discuss topics related to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Crypto slang has been created by crypto traders, developers, and enthusiasts to communicate their ideas and experiences more quickly and effectively. It’s used in the same way people use other forms of slang: to simplify ideas and quickly express them in a shorter form to save time.
Crypto slang is used in forums, blogs, social media, and other online platforms. It can be seen in most areas of the crypto world. From technical conversations about coding to trading jargon for newbies, crypto slang makes it easier for people with different backgrounds to communicate.
Crypto slang can also be used to create a sense of community within the crypto world. Many terms are specific to certain groups or countries. It’s also helpful for newcomers to express the sentiment that they’re loyal to the group, want to become part of the community and abide by the rules.
Let's explore the most popular terms of the crypto community!
Satoshi 🪙
A satoshi is the smallest unit of a Bitcoin (BTC) and is equivalent to 0.00000001 BTC. It was named after Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. The term "satoshi" is often used in place of "bitcoin" as a way to represent a very small amount of cryptocurrency. For example, if someone wanted to buy something that was priced at 1 bitcoin, they might say they are buying 100 million satoshi instead.
The term is commonly used in the cryptocurrency community when discussing small amounts of bitcoin. For example, a person might say they are “getting paid 10 satoshi an hour” to indicate a very low-paid job.
When moon? 🌚
This is a local meme, in which the moon implies a large growth of digital assets. Therefore, literally the question "When moon?" can be translated into human language like this: "When is there going to be an active growth of cryptocurrency?".
When Lambo? 🚘
When Lambo? and When moon? are two of the most popular crypto world slang terms. In essence, they refer to the same thing: making a profit on a cryptocurrency investment. “When Lambo?” refers to buying a Lamborghini with profits from a crypto investment, while “When moon?” suggests that the profit will be so large it will reach the moon.
Some members of the crypto industry have found a way to make the meme come true by buying of a Lamborghini! For example, a popular crypto blogger Ben Armstrong has Lambo.
K 👌
K (pronounced “kay”) is a slang term that has become popular in the crypto world. It originated from texting culture and is often used to acknowledge an idea or opinion that was just expressed. It is generally used to say "OK" or "I understand" when someone is responding to another person's statement.
For example, if one person says, “I think we should invest in Ethereum,” another person might respond with “K”. This means that the person agrees and acknowledges the suggestion to invest in Ethereum.
It is commonly used in chat rooms, forums, and other online platforms where people are discussing cryptocurrencies.
Fren 🤝
Fren(d) is a term used to describe an active and enthusiastic participant of the cryptocurrency space. Frens are often found in chat rooms, forums, and other online communities discussing topics related to cryptocurrency. They may also be found in person at conferences and meetups where they can share their knowledge with others. Many frens are also traders and investors, so it’s common for them to be offering advice or talking about their experiences with specific coins or tokens.
Floor Is Lava 🌋
The phrase “floor is lava” is a term used in the crypto world to refer to the market crash. It originates from the game of the same name where the goal is to avoid touching the “lava”, which symbolizes the current market conditions.
In this context, it implies that people need to be careful and make wise decisions when investing, as the market could crash at any moment. This slang term is often used in trading conversations to remind other traders of the risk they are taking when entering a position.
This phrase has also become a bit of an inside joke among traders who understand the risks associated with investing. They use it as a way to lighten up the conversation and remind others to take a step back and think before making any hasty decisions.
Boomercoin 👴🪙
Boomercoin is a slang term used to describe cryptocurrencies that are seemingly designed for the elder generation. It is often used as a derogatory term and usually references coins or tokens that have little to no utility or value. Many believe that Boomercoin projects are often scams, and should be avoided at all costs.
Boomercoins are typically coins or tokens with low circulating supply, high fees and lots of hype. They are often focused on marketing rather than actual development, and in some cases can contain false or misleading information.
The term Boomercoin may be also used to describe tokens that have not been well thought out, are overly complicated and lack a real use-case. In many cases these coins will never gain any real traction and eventually fade away, leaving investors with nothing more than a worthless token.
It's important to do your own research (DYOR) when investing in any cryptocurrency, but especially when it comes to Boomercoins. You should look into the project's whitepaper, website and social media accounts before investing, and make sure you understand the project before putting your money at risk.
HODL 💪
HODL is a slang term that originated from the crypto world and is most commonly used as a verb. It is often used to describe an investor or trader who is holding onto their cryptocurrency investments despite market downturns and price volatility. It is usually used in a positive sense, as it implies that the investor has faith in the long-term prospects of their crypto assets.
The term "HODL" is derived from a misspelling of the phrase “hold” in a 2013 post on the Bitcoin Forum. Since then, it has become one of the most commonly used terms in the crypto world, and is often used in discussions about the markets and investing strategies.
FUD 😨
FUD stands for ‘fear, uncertainty, and doubt’. It is used to describe negative sentiment and baseless rumors that are spread in the crypto world. This is often done with the intention of driving the price of a certain cryptocurrency down.
FUDsters may use a variety of tactics to spread their message, including trolling, misrepresenting facts, or even outright lying. In some cases, FUDsters may attempt to manipulate the market by creating panic and confusion. It's important to remember that FUD should not be taken as truth, but rather as a potential sign of manipulation.
Bagholder 💰
If an investor holds onto coins after their value has declined significantly, they will become a “bagholder” – someone who is stuck with an asset that has decreased in value.
It’s important for crypto investors to be aware of the potential for market manipulation and know when it may be best to take profits or cut losses. While it can be emotionally difficult to do, it may be better to accept the loss and move on than to remain a bagholder and lose even more money.
Shilling 💬
Shilling is a term that is commonly used in the cryptocurrency world to refer to the act of promoting and advocating a particular project or coin. It can also be used to refer to someone who is actively involved in the promotion of a cryptocurrency.
Shilling is considered to be a form of marketing, although it can often be seen as unethical due to its highly promotional nature. Generally, shilling involves exaggerating the potential of a project or coin, and encouraging others to invest in it.
Vaporware 💨
Vaporware is a term used in the crypto world to refer to a product that has been promised but has yet to be delivered. The term is derived from the idea of a product “vaporizing” into thin air, never to be seen again. It is used to describe projects that have been hyped up, but that have no real development or progress.
Using the word ‘vaporware’ in the context of cryptocurrencies, users note the possible lack of prospects for the coin. Investments in such projects are undesirable.
Moonboy 👦🌚
Moonboys are a kind of cryptocurrency trader who believes in moonshots. A moonboy is someone who bets on high risk investments and expects them to take off at some point in the future for big gains.
Usually Moonboy is overly optimistic about the growth rate of any cryptocurrency that has not confirmed its prospects.
Laser eyes 👀🔦
Laser eyes is often used to express enthusiasm and excitement for a certain cryptocurrency or blockchain-related development. For example, the hashtag #Lasereyes in a post about a crypto project means that the author of the publication supports it.
Often, members of the crypto community visualize a meme. Here is the profile picture of President Salvador Nayib Boucle with laser eyes on Twitter.
El Salvador was the first in the world to legalize bitcoin. The cryptocurrency received legal status in the country in the fall of 2021. The picture with laser eyes in Nayib Bukele's microblog is a reference indicating that the politician supports the crypto community.
Weak hands 🤲
Weak hands is a term used to describe a crypto investor who is easily scared out of their position by market volatility and decides to sell their holdings. The term was borrowed from poker: in the game, "weak hands" are called a bad combination of cards.
It is the weak hands that often act as the driver of panic sales in the digital asset market. The more coins are in the accounts of such investors, the greater the risks of a cryptocurrency collapse.
Diamond hands 🙌 💎
Diamond hands the complete opposite of "weak hands". The term is also borrowed from poker. In the crypto community we call "Diamond hands" those investors who are ready to hold cryptocurrency, despite the most serious market volatility. Diamond hands is a synonym for HODL.
Cryptojacking 👾
Cryptojacking is a term used to describe the unauthorized use of a computer system or device to mine cryptocurrency. It is most commonly done by hackers who gain access to a system, either through malicious software or other means, and then use it to mine for cryptocurrency without the knowledge or permission of the system's owner.
Cryptojacking can be very damaging, as it often results in reduced performance due to the computer's resources being used up by the miners. In addition, the hackers may also be able to access sensitive data from the compromised device or system. Due to the nature of cryptocurrency mining, it is difficult to trace where the mined coins are going and who is receiving them, making cryptojacking a difficult form of cybercrime.
IYKYK 😉
IYKYK is an acronym that stands for “if you know, you know”. It is often used in the crypto world to refer to insider information or things that only those with a lot of experience and knowledge would understand.
It implies that someone has insider knowledge that others don't, and it can be used as a way of saying "trust me" or "you'll understand if you're in the know". It can also be used to acknowledge something that might not be so obvious to the average person, but is well known among insiders.
For example, if someone posts a chart of a certain cryptocurrency's trading patterns, someone else might respond with "IYKYK". This would indicate that the original poster knows something that others don't, but only if they have been keeping up with the industry.
No-coiner 🙅🪙
A no-coiner is a term used in the crypto world to describe someone who is not actively involved in cryptocurrencies or blockchain technology. No-coiners may have heard about cryptocurrency, but don’t necessarily understand it or have an opinion on it one way or another.
A bearwhale 🐻🐳
A bearwhale is a term used to describe a large investor or market maker who is looking to sell off a significant amount of cryptocurrency. The term derives from the fact that, like a whale, a bearwhale has the potential to cause a large dip in the market if it dumps its crypto holdings at once.
The bearwhale is often seen as an ominous figure in the crypto space, and its potential to manipulate the markets can be daunting for smaller investors. However, a bearwhale can actually benefit the market by increasing liquidity, particularly in times of low volatility.
It is important for traders to be aware of the presence of bearwhales and to be able to identify them.
Apes 🙈
Apes is a term used in the crypto world to describe investors who buy cryptocurrencies in huge amounts and at high prices. Apes are often seen as being overly aggressive and taking huge risks with their investments.
Apes are known for buying coins at inflated prices and making quick gains, often without considering the long-term implications of their investments. They are willing to take the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies and believe that they will be rewarded handsomely. Apes typically target altcoins that have a low market cap, as these are less likely to be impacted by market movements and can be more easily manipulated by investors.
Degen 🤪
Degen is short for ‘degenerate’, and it's an unflattering term used to describe a certain type of trader who doesn't follow any sort of disciplined strategy and makes reckless investments.
Degen traders usually don't understand basic market principles and may not have any idea what they're doing or why they're investing in a particular coin. They are often considered to be gamblers rather than investors.
Down bad 👎
Down bad is a slang term used to describe someone who has lost a lot of money on the crypto market. Down bad can also be used to describe someone who has invested too much in one particular asset or currency and taken a significant loss. In some cases, this can be seen as a sign of inexperience or lack of understanding when it comes to the crypto market.
This article is not an investment recommendation. The financial and other transactions mentioned in the article are not a guide to action. Itez is not responsible for possible risks. The user should independently conduct an analysis on the basis of which it will be possible to draw conclusions and make decisions about conducting any operations with cryptocurrency and / or tokens.
