The ability to hold onto Bitcoin during price swings often comes down to one key factor: how you measure those price changes.
Beginners may agonize over minor fluctuations of 1-2%, spending hours discussing or worrying about insignificant movements. Average investors might feel strong excitement or anxiety when prices swing 10-20%, constantly debating whether to buy more or sell. Seasoned investors, however, may only notice significant price movements when the value has doubled or halved—and even then, they typically remain unfazed and stay focused on their long-term strategy.
From this behavior, we can learn much about someone’s investment psychology and probability of long-term success.
Why Frequency of Checking Price Matters
If you look back at early Bitcoin adoption, you’ll find investors who documented their reactions to daily or weekly price changes. Many of these individuals sold their holdings very early. Why?
Frequent emotional reactions to small price changes suggest a shallow mental model of what constitutes “high” or “low.” For example, if a ¥100 asset moving to ¥102 or ¥95 triggers strong emotions, your psychological “upper limit” might be around ¥200–500. Similarly, your breaking point—where you disengage—may be as low as ¥20–50.
Once the price rises to what feels like a peak, you are likely to sell everything. If the price drops and stays low for a long time, you might sell at the slightest rebound—just to end the emotional discomfort. The longer you hold at a loss, the more eager you become to exit at even a small profit.
What Your Behavior Says About Your Portfolio
An investor’s frequency of checking prices and emotional engagement often reveals their level of exposure to Bitcoin. It indirectly indicates what percentage of their total wealth is invested, and at what price points they are likely to buy or sell.
This isn’t about willpower or superior emotional control. Those who remain calm during volatility usually have a more diversified asset base or a longer-term perspective. Their sense of scale is different—they operate on a different time horizon.
The Power of Time Scale in Investing
People with a long-term perspective see market cycles differently. They focus on the fundamental value and future potential of an asset rather than short-term noise. This difference in time scale shapes how they define highs and lows, how closely they follow the market, and how they think about the core value of what they own.
Data supports this: during bull markets, search volumes and social media buzz around cryptocurrencies surge. During corrections or bear markets, interest drops dramatically—often by 90% or more. This fluctuation in attention is a clear indicator of who is riding the wave versus who is investing with conviction.
Contrarian Investing: Not Always Simple
It’s common advice to “be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” But blindly following contrarian strategies isn’t a guaranteed win.
For example, during a bull market, when prices are peaking, people often ignore risks and invest recklessly. In a bear market, when assets are undervalued, many leave the market entirely—missing opportunities to learn or accumulate at lower prices.
However, going against the crowd at every turn can also be risky. Market trends can persist much longer than expected. For instance, those who avoided real estate a decade ago because of perceived bubbles missed years of growth.
So what’s the solution?
The Answer: Ignore the Noise and Focus on the Long Term
The most reliable way to succeed is to expand your time horizon. Ignore short-term market sentiment—whether it’s news about regulations, celebrity endorsements, or macroeconomic trends. Instead, focus on the long-term potential of the technology.
Doing so allows you to bypass emotional reactions and ordinary crowd behavior. You neither follow the majority nor deliberately oppose them. You simply stay the course.
Think of it as making a commitment—like buying Bitcoin and “locking it away” for a decade. By the time you check back, you may find that those who reacted to every dip and rally were left behind, while you achieved significant growth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to “hold” Bitcoin?
Holding Bitcoin refers to maintaining your investment over a long period regardless of short-term price changes. It requires conviction in the asset’s future value and the emotional discipline to avoid panic selling during downturns.
How often should I check Bitcoin’s price?
If you’re a long-term investor, frequent price checks are unnecessary and often harmful. Checking weekly or monthly is sufficient unless you’re rebalancing a portfolio or making strategic buys.
Is it smart to buy when the price is dipping?
Buying during dips can be advantageous if you believe in Bitcoin’s long-term value. However, avoid trying to time the market perfectly. Dollar-cost averaging—investing fixed amounts regularly—is a more stable strategy.
Why do people sell during a crash?
Fear and emotional reactions often drive investors to sell during crashes. Many worry about further losses or need liquidity. Those who hold usually have stronger belief, better risk management, or a longer timeline.
Can anyone learn to hold through volatility?
Yes. Education, experience, and emotional maturity help. Start with smaller allocations you’re comfortable losing, and gradually build confidence as you learn how markets behave over time.
What is the biggest mistake during volatility?
Overtrading—constantly buying and selling based on emotion—is a common mistake. It leads to high transaction costs, tax complications, and often lower returns than a simple buy-and-hold approach.