1BTC on Dec 18, 2013: $523. 1BTC today: $87,623. The HODL strategy delivered a 16,666% gain.
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(Image credit: Getty Images) Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Flipboard Share this article Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google On December 18, 2013, a cryptocurrency investor felt compelled to pen a message rallying his fellow shellshocked troops on the Bitcointalk forums, encouraging them to hold their Bitcoin investments regardless of market fluctations. From GameKyuubi’s panicked, whisky-fuelled, typo-ridden missive, he accidentally coined the term ‘HODL’ and it entered the lexicon, sparking a million crypto and investment memes.
On this day in 2013, the ‘HODL’ meme was born. An internet forum user posted while intoxicated during a Bitcoin price drop and misspelled “hold” in a message about never selling. The meme spread and came to mean buying bitcoin for the long term no matter what. pic.twitter.com/TbG0HnNTxZ December 18, 2025
Amusingly, the originator of the HODL meme knew their communications were somewhat garbled. “I type d that tyitle twice because I know it was wrong the first time [sic],” wrote GameKyuubi. “Still wrong. w/e/ GF’s out at a lesbian bar. BTC crashing.”
GameKyuubi would readily admit their trading strategy flaws. “I know I am a bad trader,” and confirm they didn’t have the smarts to buy and sell to make money while riding the waves. However, their answer to the traders with 20:20 vision crowing that they “should have sold” was resolute. GameKyuubi characterized themselves as simply one of those people who have strong hands and hold for the most rewarding payoff, weathering all the storms that might beat other investors down. Or, as per the title of their most famous post, “I AM HODLING.”
Bitcoin price plunges, wipes $1 trillion from value weeks after it hit all-time high
Bitcoin rockets to all-time high of over $125,000
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptocurrency/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptocurrency/hodlers-began-hodling-bitcoin-12-years-ago-iconic-whisky-fuelled-investment-strategy-would-have-turned-usd523-into-over-usd87-000-a-16-666-percent-gain#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.