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What Is FOMO in Crypto & How to Deal with It?
Beginner
2025-07-09 | 15m
There are stories you always come across of a person who invested in a random cryptocurrency and became a millionaire within a day. People share screenshots of their gains on social media, and it appears that everyone is privy to something you were not aware of. That gut-wrenching thought kicks in: “Why didn’t I invest? What if it’s too late now?” This brings us to FOMO! “Fear of Missing Out!!”
FOMO is that unspoken motivation that compels you to make a decision quickly in crypto space.
Now let’s analyze FOMO; and the importance of fear of missing out in crypto. You will know why it’s so tempting, and also some useful tips on avoiding it.
What is FOMO?
In psychological terms, Fear of missing out (FOMO) involves anxiety and unease about how others might be having more rewarding experiences than you.
In crypto world, “Fear Of Missing Out” is a term that is used to express the anxiety you could feel if you don’t act quickly when making trading decisions. The idea behind it is that any delay could cause you to miss out on a potential opportunity.
For example, you might get FOMO when you see a coin that you don’t own, increasing in value. That green line ticking upwards is enough to spark panic in some, causing them to race to buy whichever coin seems to be soaring in price. The fear of missing that next big win, the coin everyone wants (but can’t have) or being the trader left behind, can be a driving force in price variations.
Of course, trading in cryptocurrency can also be a game of rumors and emotion, and FOMO can play a key role when traders decide what to, buy, sell or hold on to. FOMO can even lead some to switch markets or pull their assets out of a certain market entirely, placing them into their own cold wallets.
While the emphasis on FOMO is more often placed on the fear of missing out on a profit-driving coin, the opposite can also be true.
A
sudden drop in Bitcoin could be attributed to a variety of causes, with trades happening at dizzying speeds. Whispers of government regulations or markets that are out of favor are enough to cause many to oversell.
When coins surge to an all-time high, traders may also want to cash in while it’s hot, leading others to follow suit. Holding out means you might sell when the price is already falling again, so you would have missed out on the big profits of a price peak. In the world of crypto, anything can happen.
How FOMO Affects Crypto & Crypto Community?
If we look into some facts and figures,
FOMO has an influence on almost 84% of decisions related to crypto. According to Investment Week UK, 58% of crypto people out of 1248 participants admit that FOMO affects their decision-making quite frequently. Meanwhile, 26% of people claim that FOMO has an influence on their crypto-decisions, not frequently but occasionally!
In crypto, where the coin prices are extremely volatile, FOMO turns into a mixture of emotions with enthusiasm, fear, and pressure. Moreover, It’s easy for human nature to be influenced by the adrenaline rush of seeing a coin soar in value and the potential of missing such gains can be suppressed by rationality.
The result? Situational decisions that are made in haste!
Bad luck is that most of the time the decision made in a rush will be wrong.
63% of Crypto investors from the United States claim that the decisions they made under emotional influence resulted negatively. but sometimes
How does FOMO Affect the Dynamics of the Crypto Market?
The point is FOMO is not an individual phenomenon. FOMO has the potential to influence the entire dynamics of the markets.
Here’s how:
1. Price Surges
FOMO makes people rush to invest in a coin, thus increasing the demand and consequently prices are raised. This in turn brings in more investors as it becomes a chain reaction sort of thing.
2. Market Volatility
This means that FOO-induced purchases will lead to high volatility and possible rapid acceleration of the price of an asset or cryptocurrency and then a sharp drop whenever people decide to sell.
3. Mass Adoption of Trends
Some new projects, meme coins or NFTs, for instance, can skyrocket in a few hours or days because of FOMO even when they are fundamentally ill-begotten.
Example of Influence of FOMO in the Crypto World
Bitcoin’s 2017 Bull Run
The famous FOMO can be illustrated by the situation that occurred in 2017 when Bitcoin experienced a new upward trend. At the beginning of the year, Bitcoin was priced below $1000, approx $400!! However, by the end of the year, almost reaching 50x times the high of $20000, new investors flocked into the market.
Most of these investors were ignorant of cryptocurrencies, but they invested because of sensationalism and the desire to get rich quickly. While some of them made a lot of money, many others invested at the wrong time, that is, just before the market reached its high and then plunged downwards.
The Dogecoin Hype: Hashtags and Memes Take Over
The Dogecoin hype is a true example of Social Media influence causing FOMO and creating history!
While it was developed as a meme-based cryptocurrency, it turned into a hit mainly due to a vibrant and engaged community and sponsorship. Yes, as a result! In 2021, the appearance of tweets from such celebrities as Elon Musk caused Dogecoin’s growth.
The news feeds of social media were filled with posts about getting huge wins, which created a FOMO feeling. We saw amateurs, who had never invested in crypto before, blindly buying DOGE without even knowing the basics.
NFT Craze and the Effect on Mental Health
NFTs became a hot topic in crypto space in 2021. You must have heard about digital art selling for millions of dollars. It is recorded that in the last two weeks of October 2021, the total count of active NFT collections peaked at 2300, which was only 193 in March of the same year.
It became a trend that was caused by FOMO among collectors and investors. Twitter, Discord, and OpenSea for instance, witnessed a lot of traffic when individuals rushed to purchase exclusive NFTs at highly inflated prices. Some people made their fortunes, but many others were left with stocks that turned worthless immediately after the frenzy died down.
Main Psychological Triggering Factors That Contribute to Crypto FOMO
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Scarcity: First of all is the perception of limited supply. For example: with Bitcoin's 21 million cap, these skins of scenarios fuel urgency and result in the decision under the influence of FOMO.
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Volatility: The crypto world is undeniably volatile. Rapid price surges amplify the fear of missing out on profits. Thus, it increases the level of FOMO in decisions.
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Success stories: The stories of people getting rich instantly are always inspiring. Everyone wants to become rich in no time. Success stories of others somehow trigger the fear that we are missing the opportunity and wasting time, thus psychologically triggering the FOMO in the decision.
The Social Media Influence
Social networks have a significant impact on various aspects of today's digital landscape, including the cryptocurrency industry. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are among the primary channels through which the fear of missing out (FOMO) can be amplified.
This is due to their role in facilitating rapid dissemination of information, often accompanied by influencers, memes, and viral content that can trigger sudden market movements. As a result, easy access to information and its quick sharing contribute to the persistent presence of FOMO within the crypto market.
The involvement of influencers also increases in crypto investments. It is due to this that a single tweet or post can trigger the buying or selling of millions of followers. However, as the popularity of crypto increases, the impact of celebrities and trends will only increase.
The Risks of FOMO in Crypto
FOMO decisions are basically made under the influence of fear. They usually cause negative effects rather than positive ones. Here are some risks associated with FOMO while being in Crypto.
1. Emotional Trading Pitfalls
Fear of missing out tends to cause rash decisions, and emotions in most people. Market investors may acquire an opportunity at the highest price possible and lose their money when the market is readjusting.
2. Volatility
The crypto market is known to be very volatile. Such investors are likely to invest at highly inflated prices, which usually face a big loss to their investment.
3. Scams and FOMO-driven frauds
FOMO is exploited by scammers. Scammers develop fake projects that bring high profits. ICO scams and rug pulls are examples of how they have taken advantage of naive investors who made their FOMO decision.
How To Recognize and Manage FOMO?
Identifying FOMO tendencies
The first way of dealing with FOMO is to be aware of it. Identify specific feelings such as fear of missing out on certain opportunities or pressure to invest in a certain company without proper research.
Ways to avoid FOMO in Crypto Trading
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Research thoroughly: This means that anyone who wishes to invest in any project should first of all grasp the basics of that project.
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Set clear goals: Know what you want to achieve out of the investment and do not deviate from them.
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Diversify: Don’t keep all your hope on one thing!
DYOR: Your Best Defense Against FOMO in Crypto
Yes, it’s true and proven that FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can cloud your judgments in Crypto. It can make you act on impulse rather than logic. That’s where DYOR comes to save you!
You definitely need a crucial strategy for navigating the emotional rollercoaster of crypto investing!
What is DYOR?
DYOR means “Do Your Own Research.” It is an appeal that challenges the individual to assume direct responsibility for the investment. Instead of being influenced by trends, the advice of famous influencers, or hype. However, DYOR means going through the project’s basics, the market, and threats before investing your money into any project.
However, DYOR is the only ground on which the FOMO concept can be contextualized. It keeps you grounded. It enables you to take control of your investments rather than be a victim of FOMO or the next great thing on the market.
What is DYOR’s significance in FOMO markets?
1. Reduces Emotional Decisions
FOMO thrives on urgency. DYOR makes you take your time and avoid impulse decisions which are most often fueled by emotions.
2. Protects You from Scams
The world of cryptocurrencies is full of pumps and dumps, scams, and other frauds. Research allows you to differentiate between good opportunities and pitfalls that are created solely to take advantage of your FOMO.
3. Enhances Confidence
After you have researched your decision, you are in a better position not to doubt yourself. This confidence also keeps you from being swayed by market noise and sticking to the long-term objectives.
4. Avoids Herd Mentality
DYOR promotes the spirit of your own autonomy of thought. It means that instead of going with the flow, you make your choices based on the facts and your calculations.
Conclusion
Investing in the cryptocurrency market can occasionally resemble the experience of FOMO, where investors may either benefit or incur losses. While this phenomenon can drive market activity, foster innovation, and support broader adoption, it also has the potential to lead individuals to make emotionally driven decisions that result in financial loss if they are unprepared.
A key principle for managing FOMO involves pursuing opportunities while maintaining awareness of associated risks. FOMO does not need to be a detrimental influence if investors stay informed, establish clear goals, and approach the situation with a rational mindset.
CoinCatch Team
Disclaimer:
Digital asset prices carry high market risk and price volatility. You should carefully consider your investment experience, financial situation, investment objectives, and risk tolerance. CoinCatch is not responsible for any losses that may occur. This article should not be considered financial advice.
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