I just realized that many newcomers to crypto are still confused about what holding is, so I want to share a little. Basically, holding coins (or hodl as everyone calls it) is a strategy of keeping a certain coin without selling, regardless of market fluctuations or price drops. Instead of trying to sell at high prices and buy back at lower prices like traders do, those who hold coins usually keep their assets for several months, even years, until reaching their target price.

The name "hodl" has a pretty funny history. In 2013, a member on the BitcoinTalk forum with the nickname GameKyuubi posted a message titled "I AM HODLING" — at that time, it was a typo, but it became a meme and an official term within the crypto community ever since. Since then, what is hold has become one of the most basic concepts everyone needs to understand.

In fact, holding coins is a completely different long-term investment approach from trading. If you're a trader, you need to monitor charts all day, understand technical indicators like MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, and be ready to buy or sell within minutes when you see profit. But if you're a holder, you only need to understand some basic knowledge: how to buy coins, how to store them in a wallet, and most importantly, have a strong mindset to avoid panic selling when the market drops.

So, is holding really effective? I think it depends a lot on when you enter the market and which coin you choose. If you were lucky enough to buy in 2017, then any coin you bought would have made a profit because prices increased from 30 to 3,000 times in less than a year. But the key is recognizing when the market "heats up" and enters a bullish phase — that’s the optimal time to hold coins.

I’ve noticed that successful people in holding coins often share some common points: they believe in blockchain technology, they believe the crypto market will explode when market capitalization reaches billions of dollars, and most importantly, they have patience and conviction. Additionally, they need to have idle funds — not money they need to use immediately.

The advantage of combining both methods is that you have the opportunity to profit from short-term trading while also being protected by long-term holds. But if you decide to be both a trader and a holder, you should allocate separate capital for each strategy, even create two different accounts. The biggest secret is not to put all your eggs in one basket — capital preservation is always a top priority.

When holding coins, I usually choose top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and add a few other promising coins to diversify and reduce risk. Bitcoin’s price sometimes drops, sometimes rises, but those who believe in Bitcoin’s future usually stay firm in their stance.

Recently, positive signals have appeared: CBOE is pushing the SEC to introduce Bitcoin ETFs, Bitcoin technology is improving, the number of nodes accepting Lightning Network is increasing daily. These signs suggest that Bitcoin’s future could be brighter. That’s also why what is hold remains a worthwhile strategy for those who believe in the long-term potential of the crypto market.