Recently, quite a few newcomers have asked me what GM—what people commonly say in the crypto world—really means. In fact, the story behind it is much more interesting than it looks on the surface.

GM is an abbreviation of “Good Morning.” At first glance, it seems like a normal morning greeting. But in the crypto community, it carries far more than that. The true meaning of GM is a cultural symbol: it represents the community’s optimism, unity, and ongoing attention to the market. Saying GM isn’t just about saying hello—it’s also proclaiming, “I’m still here, and I’m still watching.”

The popularity of this culture has a clear timeline. During the wave of NFTs and meme coins from 2020 to 2021, the crypto community was unusually active on X (formerly Twitter). Back then, people in the industry didn’t care about time or time zones—they just kept saying GM to one another. Slowly, it became a way of expressing solidarity and a ritual of mutual support.

The line that stands out to me most is something someone once said: “When does a bear market truly end?” The answer: “When everyone starts saying GM together again.” This captures the real meaning of GM—it’s not just a greeting, but a collective optimistic expectation. When the market is sluggish and emotions are low, people who keep saying GM are, in fact, believing in the future.

Now, whenever I see someone say GM in the community, I can feel that sense of belonging. The positive energy carried by this word is far beyond ordinary social etiquette. For those who have been involved in the crypto market for the long term, understanding the true meaning of GM is essentially understanding the core spirit of this community.