What Does Paper Hands Mean?

The term "paper hands" is used to describe investors who sell their assets quickly out of fear and lack of conviction.

What Does Paper Hands Mean?

On the other hand, investors with "diamond hands" have faith in the eventual profitability of cryptocurrencies (or stocks), even if their value drops in the short term.

What Does Paper Hands Mean?

The term "paper hands" has become a popular slang used to describe investors who panic and sell their holdings at the first sign of a market downturn.

Paper hands lack conviction in their investments and are easily shaken by market volatility. These investors tend to sell their assets quickly, often at a loss, out of fear that the price will drop further. The term "paper hands" derives from the notion that these investors hold onto their assets as long as the market is doing well, but as soon as the market turns bearish, they fold like a piece of paper.

The term "paper hands" is often used in contrast to "diamond hands," which have strong conviction in their investments and are willing to hold onto them despite market turbulence. Diamond hands investors are more patient and tend to believe in the long-term potential of their investments. They understand that market volatility is a normal part of investing and are prepared to weather the ups and downs of the market.

Investors with paper hands tend to be more reactive than proactive, meaning they make investment decisions based on short-term fluctuations rather than long-term trends. They are often influenced by fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) spread by the media or other market participants. As a result, they miss out on potential gains and often end up selling their assets at a loss.

Paper hands can also have a cascading effect on the market. When a large number of investors panic and sell their assets, it can trigger a market downturn, leading to further panic selling. This can create a vicious cycle that drives the price of assets down, causing even more investors to sell.

Why Do Paper Hand Investors Lose Money?

Paper hands often lose money because they make investment decisions based on short-term market fluctuations rather than long-term trends. Here are listed the reasons:

  • Selling at a Loss - Paper hand investors tend to sell their assets quickly, often at a loss, out of fear that the price will drop further. This can lead to significant losses, especially if the market eventually rebounds and the asset's value increases.
  • Missed Opportunities - When paper hand investors panic and sell their assets, they often miss out on potential gains. This is because they are not patient enough to wait for the market to recover or for their investment to reach its full potential. As a result, they may end up selling their assets at a lower price than they could have received if they had held on longer.
  • Emotional Investing - Paper hand investors are often influenced by emotions such as fear and greed, which can cloud their judgment and lead to poor investment decisions. They may buy assets at high prices during market peaks and sell them quickly during market downturns, which can lead to significant losses.
  • Lack of Research - Paper hand investors may not do enough research before making an investment. They may buy an asset based on hype or media coverage, without fully understanding its potential or risks. This can lead to poor investment decisions and losses.
  • Trading Fees - Paper hand investors who frequently buy and sell assets can incur significant trading fees. These fees can eat into their profits and increase their losses, especially if they are making frequent trades.


Should You Have Diamond Hands or Paper Hands?

If you are a cryptocurrency investor, and your investment thesis remains intact, it may be worthwhile to develop "diamond hands." This is especially true if the underlying technology and adoption of the cryptocurrency are improving, and the market price has dropped due to emotional investing.

Having "diamond hands" can allow your wealth to compound over the long term and prevent you from selling at a loss.

However, it can also cause you to hold onto cryptocurrencies that have reached their peak. In such a scenario, "paper hands" may be a better option. "Paper hands" are preferable if your investment thesis has changed, or you no longer believe in the cryptocurrency. In these cases, it is better to cut your losses and move on. "Paper hands" are also preferable if you require the money for an emergency.


Related Articles

Bear Market

Bear Market

In traditional markets, a bear market is said to occur when a 20% price decrease happens during a 60-day period. This decline is...


Bull Market

Bull Market

Some people believe that the words "bear" and "bull" come from the ways in which each animal hunts its prey. In other words, a bear will...


What is Volatility in Crypto?

What is Volatility in Crypto?

Volatility is a measure of the degree of variation in the price of an asset over time. It is usually measured using statistical techniques such as...


What Does Diamond Hands Mean?

What Does Diamond Hands Mean?

On the other hand, the term "paper hands" describes an investor who sells their assets at the slightest sign of trouble.