What Is HODL? Everything You Need to Know

Feb 21, 2024 By Triston Martin

The word "HODL" is often used when people talk about investing in cryptocurrency. To buy and hold: Some people say HODL stands for "Holding on for dear life." This is not what it means. The hold is spelt wrong. It is still used by people who trade in cryptocurrency today. It's better to use the HODL strategy instead of day trading and trying to get in at the right time. People who do this are looking for long-term gains instead of short-term profits and trying to get in at the right time. You should know what is HODL, its advantages and disadvantages, and how it might affect you as an investor, so you can be ready for what to expect.


How Does HODL Work?



When people invest, they buy cryptocurrencies and hold on to them for a long time. This is called "HODLing." When the value of the thing an investor owns goes up, this lets them take advantage of the rise in its value. If they think the market will go down, they won't sell their investments.


HODL vs Buy-and-Hold Investing


Many people had used this strategy for a long time, even before there was a lot of money. It is called buy-and-hold investing when people buy something, like stock and hold on to it for a long time. Over time, the value of an asset should go up. This strategy doesn't figure out when the market will rise or fall. A buy-and-hold strategy has a lot of benefits, such as:


  • When you don't trade very often, you pay fewer transaction fees.
  • The reason you don't have to pay more in short-term personal income taxes is that you're going to keep your investments for a long time.
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says that people who buy and hold rather than try to time the market is more likely to succeed in the long run.


You should know that the buy-and-hold strategy isn't always the same as the HODL strategy. Most people who want to buy and hold their money put them in index funds because they don't want to beat the market but match it.


Pros



1. When the Market is Right Doesn't Matter


The best short-term traders know when prices will rise and fall. As long as you have a lot of experience, you might be able to see some changes in the market. Most people haven't been through that. There is no risk in HODL because it doesn't matter if you time the market.


2. A Long-Term Wealth Gains Tax Rate Is Used To Tax the Money That People Make


On assets that have been kept for even more than a year, it costs more to tax capital gains than on assets that have been held for less than a year. It will help you pay less tax on your money if you use the HODL method.


3. Buy and Hold Record


Investing in buy-and-hold stocks has a good track record, so many experts say it's a good idea to do. Although it is essential for investors to understand the distinction between stock investment and cryptocurrency trading, buy-and-hold trading is often the best way to gain money over time.


Cons


1. People Don't Know If Cryptocurrency Is Going To Work Well Or Not


The best thing to do is to buy and hold. You can look back on many years when you look at what the stock has done in the past. Watch how the market moves up over time. There was a lot of time to study because the first stock exchanges were set up in 1792.


2. Capital is kept for a long time


Your money can't be used for many years or even decades. In the next few years, people who want to spend their money might not be good at HODL. Make sure that you have enough money set aside for investments before starting.


Is HODL Worth It For People Who Invest On Their Own?


It might make people who trade cryptocurrency think about whether or not the HODL strategy is worth it. The stock market doesn't have the same track record as cryptocurrency, but that doesn't mean we don't know that. To be clear, whether or not to invest in cryptocurrency is not the same as the question of whether or not to invest in cryptocurrency at all.

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