# HODL

Source URL: https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hodl
Updated: 2026-05-26T17:15:25.000Z
Letter: H

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**Quick Definition**

HODL is a Bitcoin community term meaning to hold onto Bitcoin long-term, regardless of market volatility, reflecting a belief in its enduring value as sound money.

**Practical Examples**

- A Bitcoiner buys 1 BTC at $30,000 and refuses to sell during a price dip to $20,000, trusting Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation.
- During the 2017 bull run, a [HODLer](https://support.dxp-staging.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hodler) ignores hype to trade altcoins, sticking to Bitcoin as the only true decentralized currency.
- A user sets up a cold wallet to HODL their Bitcoin securely for decades.

**Key Takeaways**

- HODL embodies Bitcoiners’ conviction in Bitcoin’s scarcity and value.
- It rejects short-term trading for long-term wealth preservation.
- HODLing prioritizes Bitcoin’s role as sound money over speculative assets.

**In-Depth Explanation**

HODL originated in a 2013 BitcoinTalk forum post where a user, frustrated by market volatility, mistyped “hold” as “HODL” while declaring their refusal to sell. The term became a Bitcoin maximalist mantra, symbolizing unwavering belief in Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply and its resistance to inflation, unlike fiat currencies or other cryptocurrencies. HODLing reflects a strategy of accumulating Bitcoin and securing it in a wallet for long-term storage, often through bear markets. It’s rooted in Bitcoin’s design as a decentralized, censorship-resistant store of value, making it a cultural and financial stance against centralized financial systems.

**Why Bitcoiners Care**

Bitcoiners HODL because they see Bitcoin as the ultimate hedge against fiat devaluation and centralized control. Unlike altcoins, which often lack Bitcoin’s security or decentralization, HODLing Bitcoin is a commitment to sound money principles, scarcity, immutability, and sovereignty. It’s a rejection of get-rich-quick schemes and a bet on Bitcoin’s dominance as the only cryptocurrency that matters.

Navigation: Blockstream Help Center > Education > Glossary > HODL

## Related Terms in This Letter
- [HODLer](https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hodler)
- [Hashrate](https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hashrate)
- [Hashcash](https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hashcash)
- [HODL](https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/hodl) (current)
- [Halving](https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/halving)