Want to talk like a true crypto veteran? The world of Web3, NFTs, and decentralized finance moves at a blistering pace, and it has developed its own colorful, fast-moving language to match. This slang isn’t just jargon; it’s a vital part of the culture, the communication, and the collective psychology of the market. Knowing it is key to understanding the community, the risks, and the rewards.
If you can confidently use 20 out of the 23 slangs listed in this guide, consider yourself a certified Web3 Chad—someone with the experience and knowledge to navigate this brave new digital frontier.
Community & Confidence: The Positive Vibe Check
In the world of decentralized communities, shared optimism is currency. These terms are all about positive market sentiment, collective belief, and high energy.
The most fundamental rallying cry is WAGMI, which stands for We’re All Gonna Make It. It’s a powerful, collective mantra used to show confidence and shared optimism in Web3 projects or the market’s long-term future. When the energy is high and a project is about to launch, you’ll hear LFG, short for Let’s Fucking Go, used to hype up the community.
Daily interaction is punctuated by GM (Good Morning), which is a friendly, enthusiastic greeting used in Web3 communities at any time of day, often doubling as an affirmation for “Get Money.” Its counter is GN (Good Night), used as a sign-off, though it’s less common.
When an asset is performing well, the ultimate goal is to Moon. This term describes a token or project’s price skyrocketing dramatically to incredible heights. The overall state of the market is defined by the Bull, which signifies a rising market characterized by widespread optimism, high prices, and enthusiastic buying. The highest peak an asset has ever reached is its ATH, or All-Time High.
Trading & Market Behavior: The Investor Archetypes
Crypto trading is an emotional rollercoaster, and these phrases perfectly capture the psychological profiles and key rules of the game.
The most crucial rule is embodied in the acronym DYOR (Do Your Own Research). This is a constant warning to every investor to critically check a project’s fundamentals, team, technology, and whitepaper before committing any funds. It’s the opposite of blindly following hype.
Once an investment is made, the goal for many is to HODL, meaning Hold On for Dear Life. This term refers to the strategy of keeping your crypto and not selling, regardless of extreme market volatility or price crashes. The people who manage to hold through the toughest dips are said to have Diamond Hands, showing unwavering strong belief and resilience in their investment. Conversely, those who sell too early or panic-sell during a slight dip are dismissed as Paper Hands.
The thrilling, high-risk side of the market is run by the Degens (short for Degenerates)—people who take extremely high-risk, speculative bets, often in brand new or obscure projects. A classic degen move is to Ape into a new investment, meaning they jump in quickly and aggressively without much due diligence. Meanwhile, major players who can influence the market’s direction are called Whales because they own a massive amount of a specific cryptocurrency.
Finally, the inevitable psychological trap is FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), which is the panicked feeling that drives traders to buy an asset solely because they fear the price is about to surge without them.
Market Threats & Warnings: The Dark Side of Decentralization
Not all of Web3 is sunshine and GM. You must be aware of the threats, scams, and signs of a declining market.
The opposite of the optimistic WAGMI is the dismissive NGMI (Not Gonna Make It), used when someone makes consistently poor investment decisions, sells too soon, or misses a major opportunity.
The most widespread negative phenomenon is FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt). This occurs when people intentionally spread negativity, false rumors, or fear-mongering about a project, often with the goal of manipulating prices down so they can buy cheap. Another negative behavior is to Shill a project, which means to overhype a token or NFT collection, usually for personal gain because the shiller holds a large stake or has been paid for the promotion.
The worst outcome for an investor is to get Rekt (Wrecked), which means losing a large amount of money from bad or reckless trades. Even worse is falling victim to a Rug Pull, a notorious scam where a project’s creators suddenly abandon the project and run away with the investors’ funds (the “rug” is pulled out from under the investment).
On a broader market level, the counterpart to the bullish optimism is the Bear market, which signifies a falling market characterized by pessimism, declining prices, and investor caution.
A truly sarcastic and dismissive phrase often aimed at critics of crypto or those with Paper Hands is HFSP (Have Fun Staying Poor). While harsh, it is a common expression of extreme crypto maximalism.
Beyond the Basics: One More Essential Term
To ensure you have your Web3 Lingo fully leveled up, here is one more crucial term, particularly in the NFT space:
The Floor Price refers to the lowest price for any item (typically an NFT) within a specific collection or series on a marketplace. It’s the baseline value for entry into that community.
If you know and understand how to use these 23 slangs, you possess the verbal fluency of a true Web3 insider. Good luck, and LFG!