Crypto X, Telegram, and Reddit are filled with crypto advertisers promising huge profits and incredible benefits. However, the promises made by slogans and taglines are not always clear or transparent. Let’s go over some terms that should serve as warnings for crypto investors.
DYOR
In the field of cryptocurrency, DYOR stands for “Do Your Own Research.” The core principle behind DYOR is quite common in blockchain: the idea that each person is ultimately responsible for themselves and their decision to invest in a project.
DYOR serves as a reminder that no matter how hyped an asset is or how many influencers recommend it — if the token falls to zero, you’re on your own: “We’re not responsible; you should have done your own research.”
The main message: When you lose all your money, it’s not my fault.
NFA
NFA, or “Not Financial Advice,” is a disclaimer commonly used as a “get-out-of-jail-free” card when financial advice is clearly being suggested.
For example:
We’re going to the moon! (NFA)
A partnership announcement is imminent! (NFA)
Buy now! (NFA)
Providing financial advice is serious business, with potentially serious consequences if something goes wrong. Financial advice should only be taken from a licensed professional with a long track record of successful financial investments.
For instance, the failure of Saylor’s Bitcoin custody case highlights a growing divide within the crypto community.
The main message: Don’t sue your advisor when you lose all your money.
HODL
“Hodl” is a misspelling of the word “hold,” which first appeared in a message on the Bitcointalk forum in 2013.
At that time, Bitcoin’s price was incredibly volatile, and the post’s author urged Bitcoin holders to keep their bitcoins rather than sell them. The post was full of other spelling mistakes, likely because the author was drunk, as he admitted at the end of the post.
Since then, this phrase has become a slogan for true crypto enthusiasts, and some have turned it into the acronym “hold on for dear life.”
The main message: “In a zero-sum game, traders can only take your money if you sell.”
Find safe entry
A safe entry is a trading term that somewhat depends on the observer. Ideally, a safe entry is when a token’s price is safely lower than it will be in the near future, allowing you to buy, sell, and make a profit. An unsafe entry is when a token is unsafely higher than it will be in the near future, allowing you to buy, sell, and lose nearly all your money.
The trick is knowing which circumstances are which, and if you don’t, it’s not the fault of the crypto seller who recommended the investment. Similar to DYOR and NFA, “finding a safe entry” or “finding a good entry” is yet another way to absolve the adviser of any responsibility for recommending a token.
The main message: I told you to find a safe entry, so it’s not my fault you didn’t find one and lost all your money.
Up only
This phrase seems to imply that the token will be profitable no matter when or where you buy it.
Anyone who has spent some time in the crypto space knows that no token only goes up. So, if someone promises you a new crypto project that “only goes up,” be cautious.
The main message: This token is bound to crash at some point.
To the moon
When a crypto seller says a token is “going to the moon,” it implies that the token will inevitably increase 100-fold, leaving every holder with massive profits. Or it could simply mean the seller only hopes the token will grow 100 times, which may never happen.
The main message: Houston, we have a problem. We lost all our money.
Buy the dip
Token prices go up, and token prices go down. The key to profiting from buying and selling tokens is to buy them when they fall and sell them when they rise. So “buy the dip” when tokens drop, and you’ll inevitably profit.
However, finding the bottom of a market cycle is another matter. Sometimes, the token price keeps dropping even after you’ve “bought the dip.”
The main message: We’re about to go to the moon. You should’ve bought this token!
And, of course, a final warning for crypto investors: be cautious of phrases that may raise doubts and hide risks in the crypto world. If you are offered an opportunity to invest in a project or tokens, carefully read the terms. If you come across any of the phrases above, it’s a reason to be cautious!
