Data
HODL by the Numbers
Ten years of data confirm what GameKyuubi said in 2013 while drunk. Patience is the strategy.
0M+
Global crypto holders
20240%
Resist panic selling
54-60% across studies+0.0%
2024 Bitcoin HODL returns
Full-year 20240
Public companies hold BTC
Q3 2024+0%
Institutional growth Q3 2024
YoY increase0%+
BTC growth 2013→2024
$1,100 → $100K+History
Every Bear Was Followed by a New High
Four major crashes. Four recoveries. The pattern is the same every time.
PeriodDrawdownRecoveryLesson
2011-93%13 moFirst major crash. HODLers made 10x on recovery.
2013–2015-85%24 moMt. Gox. Diamond hands survived the exchange collapse.
2017–2018-84%30 mo$20K → $3K. Institutions used the dip to accumulate.
2021–2022-77%~24 moFTX, 3AC. $69K → $15K. Then $100K+ followed.
Comparison
HODL vs Active Trading
01
Long-Term HODLer
- +Transaction fees: 2 (entry + exit)
- +No emotional decision-making
- +Long-term capital gains tax
- +Captures all major market moves
- +2024 BTC return: +52.8%
- +Zero daily attention required
02
Active Trader
- −Transaction fees: unlimited
- −Emotionally reactive to news
- −Short-term ordinary income tax
- −Often misses largest single-day moves
- −<5% beat HODL over 3+ years
- −Constant attention required
Institutional
Who Else is HODLing
244
Public companies
Holding BTC on balance sheet+38%
Q3 2024 growth
YoY institutional increase3+
Nation states
El Salvador, Bhutan, Tonga$X00B+
Institutional BTC
Estimated total held