Living With Bitcoin’s Ups and Downs Over the Years

[Byebyebtc]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

Normally this an experience that majority of investors even traders has gone through, from the excitement to anxiety, fear, fomo, looking at the chart every time, even to the extent of posting it in stories and status every time lol
But this is also a phase, you can call it newbie experience, Although some people live in the newbie experience for long if they chose not to change ,
But there will come a time that maturity will come in place, when you are now experienced and into the main game, like the saying goes experience is the best teacher, the experience brings out the maturity and you wouldn't be doing things like the way you did before, no more monitoring the chart every time, no more fear, greed etc. But greed can still be your issue even when your matured too lol
I always tell people that investing in bitcoin should be treated as same as when you save money in the bank, you should just stay calm and let it play
But still yet some investors still panic when the coin starts making retracements, which is totally wrong
Your just being an investor without an investor mindset.

[Ryu_Ar1]

I know people who destroyed their lives because they only had like $20k in the bank and they put it all into bitcoin and a month later it fell by 50%.

It is important to remember that investing is not just based on hype, but also on learning and belief in what we invest in, including bitcoin.

From the outset, we know that bitcoin is risky, but if it is ultimately used as a long-term investment, the risks can certainly be minimized.
When we focus solely on the short-term profits we hope to achieve overnight, leading us to go all in on investments and expect profits the next day, the result is like what happened to some of your friends—they only saw the potential profits or, to put it bluntly, they wanted easy money quickly without realizing the risks involved.

Those who are serious about Bitcoin and invest for the long term will never experience losses from their investments because Bitcoin's progress has been quite clear so far, despite the risks. However, the story may be different if the context is the same as some of your acquaintances, where they only want to make short-term profits and panic when the value decreases, then exit Bitcoin even though they are at a loss.

[JaredIbrahim]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

You've leveled up, brother. That's the real zen.

We all start as chart-gazing degens, hearts pounding with every candle. It's a rite of passage. But you graduate. The noise fades, the conviction hardens.

Now you're not a trader, you're a builder. You're stacking for a future, not a payout. Watching it weave into the fabric of the world is the real gain. The price is just a side quest.

Welcome to the long game. This is where the real believers live. Just stack, run a node, and watch the show. You get it now.

[NovaCrest]

It's always been that way for newbies, for every given price decrease of Bitcoin, the newbies panic. If every price increase of Bitcoin, the newbies feel relieved to think of the bright future of hodling Bitcoin.

Beautiful enough, that anxiety and running emotions are bygones, nothing to think over as before as we have now seen every decrease price as a buying opportunity to buy Bitcoin at a discount price for long terml

It's like a rite of passage. Panic at the dip, relief at the pump. Everyone who's been here a few cycles has worn those shoes.

The beautiful shift happens when you start seeing red on the chart not as panic, but as a discount notification. The emotions don't fully go away, but you learn to ignore the noise and trust the long-term trend. That's when you level up from "newbie" to "HODLer."

[pawanjain]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

I think many of us here would have had the same experience and felt the same emotions.
Over the years, I have seen bitcoin pump and dump quite a few times and now it feels like bitcoin is here to stay for long.
Thus, investing in bitcoin will definitely be a good choice over a long term since the price is bound to increase due to the rising inflation.
Why to get concerned with the short term fluctuations when you reap the long term benefits without any worry.

[betswift]

It's always been that way for newbies, for every given price decrease of Bitcoin, the newbies panic. If every price increase of Bitcoin, the newbies feel relieved to think of the bright future of hodling Bitcoin.

Beautiful enough, that anxiety and running emotions are bygones, nothing to think over as before as we have now seen every decrease price as a buying opportunity to buy Bitcoin at a discount price for long terml

It's like a rite of passage. Panic at the dip, relief at the pump. Everyone who's been here a few cycles has worn those shoes.

The beautiful shift happens when you start seeing red on the chart not as panic, but as a discount notification. The emotions don't fully go away, but you learn to ignore the noise and trust the long-term trend. That's when you level up from "newbie" to "HODLer."

The best hodlers are those that don't look at the price of BTC daily, only when they a note that their target is reached.

The rest is noise most of the times.

[lionheart78]

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

I am never obsessed with the price of Bitcoin, the first time I learned about Bitcoin, I believed that it is for payment system.  I never panic over Bitcoin dump because I don't have much of BTC to begin with, since once I had the BTC fund, I have been spending it to pay for bills, online purchases to at least contribute to the Bitcoin economy in my own way. 

I always wanted Bitcoin to be a mode of payment, something my country had given to its citizens when it acknowledged Bitcoin as a mode of payment.  With that, Bitcoin is not only a background of life for me but rather a part of life that has been proliferating over the years.

[Maus0728]

I was like at first OP, but the moment that I have seen the price of bitcoin go from dips and peaks throughout the years, I eventually got desensitized or got used to it so much that it does not matter to me whether bitcoin crashes today or pumps because I know that as long as I have bitcoin in my possession, I will not be that much affected and I have other ways that I make money anyway so I do not panic whenever the price is not favorable to me, in fact, I think that everyone should see this as a blessing actually because that means you can buy bitcoin at a much cheaper price and when it eventually and inevitably pumps really high, you get the best value especially if you have hodled for a really long time. When you are a veteran hodler, you will eventually get used to this market volatility that you will probably just share memes about price drops or when the whole crypto market is on the red.

[devlin85]

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

I am never obsessed with the price of Bitcoin, the first time I learned about Bitcoin, I believed that it is for payment system.  I never panic over Bitcoin dump because I don't have much of BTC to begin with, since once I had the BTC fund, I have been spending it to pay for bills, online purchases to at least contribute to the Bitcoin economy in my own way. 

I always wanted Bitcoin to be a mode of payment, something my country had given to its citizens when it acknowledged Bitcoin as a mode of payment.  With that, Bitcoin is not only a background of life for me but rather a part of life that has been proliferating over the years.

I've been bag holding btc for 7 years but i have many regrets, i never spent money and now ive lost all value for money living depressed online.

[SOKO-DEKE]

If we we by to live avoid unnecessary headaches, fear and panic, then we have to learn to do away with frequent checks in our investment, once we have invested on the right coin and use the appropriate wallet, we can leave it to always remained as volatile as ever, during the fall and rise of the market, we are going to have the market resulted to pump at last if we can hold and wait for more longer time.

The reason why most people do check their investment wallets or check the price of Bitcoin from time to time is because they never truly have the mindset to hold for a long period of time. Instead, they only claim that they are ready to hold long term.Maybe their knowledge about Bitcoin investment is not sufficient, or they did not properly invest only what they can afford to lose. There are some people who invested money that they cannot afford to lose like they inveated what the money they have plan to use in nearest future.because of this, it is not possible for someone who invested wrongly to avoid panic. Such people will continue checking their wallets and price movements. Most people do not follow the right steps and that is why they suffer during their crypto investment period.

[fikrett]

I've been bag holding btc for 7 years but i have many regrets, i never spent money and now ive lost all value for money living depressed online.

Then your main goal is to get better, and to keep valuing what's in hand.

[uchegod-21]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

It is very normal for newbies to show this kind of obsession with their bitcoin investments. No matter how informed they think they
may be, the different price movements can still put some kinds of panic or excitement in them. During this period, some will lose hope and quit out of frustration, while the few others will stay committed to the strategy they have adopted so far and along the line, change their perspective from constantly monitoring short term price movements, to having a long term mindset.

Many investors right now are in for a long term journey, they, just like you are passionate about bitcoin but no longer showing that signs of obsession.

[Antona]

If we we by to live avoid unnecessary headaches, fear and panic, then we have to learn to do away with frequent checks in our investment, once we have invested on the right coin and use the appropriate wallet, we can leave it to always remained as volatile as ever, during the fall and rise of the market, we are going to have the market resulted to pump at last if we can hold and wait for more longer time.

The reason why most people do check their investment wallets or check the price of Bitcoin from time to time is because they never truly have the mindset to hold for a long period of time. Instead, they only claim that they are ready to hold long term.Maybe their knowledge about Bitcoin investment is not sufficient, or they did not properly invest only what they can afford to lose. There are some people who invested money that they cannot afford to lose like they inveated what the money they have plan to use in nearest future.because of this, it is not possible for someone who invested wrongly to avoid panic. Such people will continue checking their wallets and price movements. Most people do not follow the right steps and that is why they suffer during their crypto investment period.

 It's not just about knowledge, it's about psychology and personal finance. Someone can know everything about Bitcoin's halving and still be a terrible investor if they use rent money. The "right steps" are more about basic personal finance (emergency fund first) than deep crypto knowledge. Mixing the two up is where people fail.

[treesintheforestooh]

It's definitely not as emotional as it was years ago. The last sentence of the OP definitely is more along the lines of how I feel and see Bitcoin anymore at least when it comes to fiat value.

There's very little that bothers me.

With that said, though, I think it would be unwise to pretend Bitcoin's future is already written and there's nothing that can't "hurt" it or turn it into something it "should" not be.

Primarily, at this point I think the security budget is a serious concern. To pretend it's not an issue is, again, unwise. I'd recommend the websites budget.day and natgmi.com/natpaper to better understand the issue.

Miners are the foundation to network security. Rewards halving and stagnant transaction fees are a reality. The difficulty adjustment is fantastic, but even with that there's a potential for greater and greater centralization of the network which is very problematic now and later.  

Bitcoin is far too valuable to just hope and imagine it to be perfect throughout time. The quantum resistance issue is another example making it clear that Bitcoin isn't perfect and needs people to insure the community is up-to-date on the latest happenings.

[bounceback]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

Fluctuating crypto market movements are a natural part of the crypto market, so it's natural that every market event can sometimes feel like it can change our lives quickly. Never assume that investing in Bitcoin is a get-rich-quick scheme, as this is a fatal mistake and increases the risk of loss. Many beginners often view Bitcoin investment as a get-rich-quick scheme because of its wild fluctuations, as if they can make a lot of money. However, in reality, we often see them exiting the market with losses. Long-term goals are indeed the only right choice when investing in Bitcoin, especially since history has shown that those who can hold Bitcoin for the long term are the ones who will reap the greatest profits.

[CryptoYar]

[...]

Fact that price of crypto market can change and make new users think that they can become rich fast is very true idea that makes them make bad choices and lose money. This is because it is very hard and risky to try to make profit on these big price moves in short time. Most of those who try to buy at lowest price and to sell at highest price end up doing opposite. This is huge mistake that should not be made when starting in market because you may think that you are going to make money right away, and then you panic, and when price drops, you lose your money. Real and best way of investing in BTC is to make long term goals, since history has shown that ones who can deal with ups and downs of keeping their BTC are ones who will profit most out of overall rise in value over time.

[Ojengonggu]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

That's the true evolution of a HODLer. You've graduated.

You went from staring at the ticker, heart pounding with every candle, to a quiet, disciplined stacker. The emotional rollercoaster smooths out into a steady grind. Bitcoin stops being a casino and starts being a cornerstone.

The real excitement isn't in the green dildos anymore—it's in watching the world slowly, reluctantly, admit that this thing is here to stay. The price becomes background noise. The adoption becomes the main event.

Welcome to the long game. This is where real wealth is built—not in panic or euphoria, but in calm, relentless accumulation. You've leveled up.

[Antona]

[...]

Fact that price of crypto market can change and make new users think that they can become rich fast is very true idea that makes them make bad choices and lose money. This is because it is very hard and risky to try to make profit on these big price moves in short time. Most of those who try to buy at lowest price and to sell at highest price end up doing opposite. This is huge mistake that should not be made when starting in market because you may think that you are going to make money right away, and then you panic, and when price drops, you lose your money. Real and best way of investing in BTC is to make long term goals, since history has shown that ones who can deal with ups and downs of keeping their BTC are ones who will profit most out of overall rise in value over time.

Seen this exact post a hundred times after every major top. The forum fills with stories of people who tried to swing trade and got liquidated. The OGs who are still here are the ones who internalized this lesson years ago. Their portfolios aren't the biggest because they're genius traders, but because they simply held through multiple brutal bear markets. It's a simple strategy, but incredibly hard to execute emotionally.

[uchegod-21]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

It is very normal for newbies to show this kind of obsession with their bitcoin investments. No matter how informed they think they
may be, the different price movements can still put some kinds of panic or excitement in them. During this period, some will lose hope and quit out of frustration, while the few others will stay committed to the strategy they have adopted so far and along the line, change their perspective from constantly monitoring short term price movements, to having a long term mindset.

Many investors right now are in for a long term journey, they, just like you are passionate about bitcoin but no longer showing that signs of obsession.

True, but it's important to clarify that "staying committed to a strategy" only works if it's a good strategy to begin with. A newbie's first "strategy" might be FOMO-ing into some shitcoin or using too much leverage. The obsession phase is dangerous because it often leads to impulsive decisions. The advice should be: use this obsessed energy to learn about self-custody and fundamentals, not just price action.

Experience will teach newbies what strategy to stick or disregard. During the early stages, newbies will try different things which may not neccessarily be a strategy. Just like you said, most of their actions are based on fomo and panic. Once they have adapted to the system and learnt a few relevant information, they will understand better why certain things happen the way they do. A true strategy can then be built from there. Newbies should be free to learn new things but with capital they can afford to lose.

[Antona]

When I first discovered Bitcoin, every move in price felt like a life-changing event. A $500 drop made me panic, a $1,000 pump made me think I was set for life. Over time, though, the way I look at it has changed.

These days, I see Bitcoin less as a quick way to make money and more as a long-term habit. I don’t check the charts constantly anymor, it just sits there like a piece of my financial routine, the same way people contribute to a pension or keep a savings account.

What’s interesting is how the excitement has shifted. For me, it’s no longer about chasing the next all-time high, but watching how Bitcoin slowly becomes part of everyday conversations, companies, and even policies. It feels less like an experiment now, and more like something permanent.

I’m curious if others here have gone through the same cycle, from price obsession to simply viewing Bitcoin as part of the background of life.

It is very normal for newbies to show this kind of obsession with their bitcoin investments. No matter how informed they think they
may be, the different price movements can still put some kinds of panic or excitement in them. During this period, some will lose hope and quit out of frustration, while the few others will stay committed to the strategy they have adopted so far and along the line, change their perspective from constantly monitoring short term price movements, to having a long term mindset.

Many investors right now are in for a long term journey, they, just like you are passionate about bitcoin but no longer showing that signs of obsession.

True, but it's important to clarify that "staying committed to a strategy" only works if it's a good strategy to begin with. A newbie's first "strategy" might be FOMO-ing into some shitcoin or using too much leverage. The obsession phase is dangerous because it often leads to impulsive decisions. The advice should be: use this obsessed energy to learn about self-custody and fundamentals, not just price action.

Experience will teach newbies what strategy to stick or disregard. During the early stages, newbies will try different things which may not neccessarily be a strategy. Just like you said, most of their actions are based on fomo and panic. Once they have adapted to the system and learnt a few relevant information, they will understand better why certain things happen the way they do. A true strategy can then be built from there. Newbies should be free to learn new things but with capital they can afford to lose.

Solid advice. I'd just add that newbies should also be free to ignore like 99% of the "strategies" shouted on social media. DYOR doesn't mean trying every altcoin shilled at you. Adapting means learning to filter noise, which is a strategy itself.