10 Terms every crypto chat participant should know

The world of cryptocurrencies has its own reality, and the crypto community has its own language. If you want to avoid looking like a newcomer in a Telegram or Discord chat and truly understand what's going on, you need to master the basics of crypto slang. Especially in 2025, where everything moves fast and memes mix with serious finance.

Here are 10 essential terms everyone should know to stay fluent in crypto discussions.

1. DYOR — Do your own research

The ultimate disclaimer. Whenever someone recommends a project or shares analysis, you’ll hear this. It means: don’t trust blindly — verify everything yourself.

2. FOMO — Fear of missing out

That creeping panic when a token is pumping and you’re not in it. Many bad investment decisions are born out of FOMO.

3. HODL

A legendary misspelling of “hold”, which turned into a crypto mantra: “Don’t sell. Just hold.” Now it symbolizes long-term belief regardless of market swings.

4. GM / GN

Short for Good Morning / Good Night — common greetings in the crypto space, especially in Telegram, Discord, and X (Twitter). It’s part of the daily rhythm for Web3 enthusiasts.

5. RUG / RUGPULL

When a project suddenly vanishes and the team disappears with investor funds. Example: “That project rugpulled last night. Total loss.”

6. WHALE

A wallet or investor holding a huge amount of crypto, capable of moving the market with one trade. Example: “A whale just dumped $5M worth of tokens.”

7. WAGMI / NGMI

Iconic crypto acronyms:

● WAGMI – We’re All Gonna Make It (optimism and community spirit)

● NGMI – Not Gonna Make It (sarcastic tone toward poor decisions or late entries)

8. BAG / Bagholder

“Bag” refers to a token portfolio. A bagholder is someone holding onto a token that has crashed — sometimes in denial, sometimes in hope.

9. REKT

Crypto slang for “wrecked”. If your portfolio tanks or a project fails miserably, you’ve been rekt.

10. APE / APE IN

Jumping into a project impulsively, usually without research. Often used humorously or as a warning: “I aped into that memecoin — RIP.”

Conclusion

Understanding crypto slang is more than fun — it’s a vital part of keeping up with the community. From memes to market signals, every term has weight and context. Whether you’re deep into trading or just browsing group chats, these phrases help you stay connected.