Remember the glory days of 2021, when you could toss your savings into just about any crypto project, HODL like your life depended on it, and still wake up to green charts? Yeah, those were the times when "being stupidly long" paid off big, no matter if you picked the right horse or not

- Content will summarize the tweet, analyze it, and relate to meme tokens.
. Fast-forward to today, and the vibe in the crypto trenches couldn't be more flipped. In a recent clip from the ThreadGuy stream, none other than Ryan Watkins—former Messari research head and current Synercy Capital co-founder—lays it bare: nobody wants to hold long-term anymore.

If you're knee-deep in meme tokens like the rest of us at Meme Insider, this hits close to home. Meme coins thrive on that quick-flip energy, but Watkins' breakdown explains why even the broader market's gone full short-term sprint. Let's unpack what he said, why it matters, and how it ties into the wild world of memecoins.

The HODL Hangover from 2022

Watkins doesn't mince words: "In 2021, the dominant mentality was HODL. Back then, you got paid for being stupidly long and you could choose the wrong assets and still do well. In 2022, everyone got rinsed, that belief led them astray."

For the uninitiated, HODL is crypto slang for "hold on for dear life"—a battle cry born from a misspelled forum post that became gospel during bull runs. It worked like a charm in 2021's euphoria, where Bitcoin smashed past $60K and altcoins (including early meme darlings like Dogecoin) rode the wave to absurd gains. But 2022? That was the great unwind. Terra's collapse, FTX's implosion, and a bear market that wiped out trillions turned HODLers into bagholders overnight.

The scars run deep. As Watkins points out, that rinse—crypto speak for getting wrecked by market dumps—shattered the faith. Folks who doubled down on "diamond hands" watched their portfolios evaporate, breeding a generation of traders scarred by over-optimism.

This Cycle's Polar Opposite: No Beliefs, Just Bets

Here's the kicker: "The exact opposite is happening this cycle, people don’t want to believe in anything anymore."

We're talking 2025's bull run, where Bitcoin's flirting with new highs again, but the energy's all vibes and volatility. No one's preaching moonshots with religious fervor. Instead, it's a pragmatic grind: trade the meta, chase the hype, and exit before the rug pull. Watkins, chatting with DeFi Monk on the stream, nails how this skepticism defines the era.

Think about it in meme token terms. Back in 2021, you'd ape into a dog-themed coin and HODL through the pumps, betting on community magic. Now? Pump.fun launches hit Solana daily, but holders bail at the first sign of whale sells. It's not laziness—it's learned behavior. The 2022 bloodbath taught us that blind loyalty gets you rekt, while nimble trading stacks sats.

This shift isn't just anecdotal; it's baked into the data. On-chain metrics show shorter holding periods across the board, with meme ecosystems like Base and Solana seeing frantic in-and-out flows. Tools like Dune Analytics reveal how DEX volumes spike on hype but fade fast, mirroring Watkins' point.

What This Means for Meme Token Hunters

At Meme Insider, we're all about spotting those diamond-in-the-rough memecoins before they 10x (or rug). But Watkins' insight is a wake-up call: in this no-belief cycle, success favors the adaptable. Here's how to play it smart:

• Short-Term conviction plays: Look for memes with real utility hooks—like AI integrations or cross-chain bridges—that justify quick flips without long HODLs.
• Risk management mastery: Set those stop-losses and take profits early. The market's too choppy for "set it and forget it."
• Community pulse-check: Unlike 2021's cult-like follows, today's winners build on transparent vibes. Track Telegram activity and X sentiment for early exit signals.

Watkins isn't doomsaying—he's diagnosing. This cycle rewards street smarts over blind faith, which could actually mature the space. Meme tokens, with their viral DNA, might evolve from pure gambles to efficient hype machines.

The full clip is worth the watch—it's a raw, 40-second gut punch that captures the market's soul right now. What's your take? Still HODLing that one weird token from '21, or have you gone full degen trader? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we're building the ultimate meme knowledge base here at Meme Insider.

Stay nimble, stack wisely, and remember: in crypto, the only constant is change. 🚀