WAGMI and NGMI

What do WAGMI and NGMI mean?

WAGMI — “We’re All Gonna Make It” — has evolved into crypto’s rallying cry for optimism. Traders often chant it when the market’s under pressure or their holdings, or “bags,” have taken a steep hit. It does more than just express hope; it actively shapes the culture around trading. 

For one, it strengthens the sense of camaraderie, knitting together a shared belief that binds the community. It also acts as a psychological anchor for HODLers, giving them a reason to ride out market corrections instead of caving to panic selling. 

Finally, it signals confidence — a quiet assertion from traders who back their positions and the broader crypto ecosystem over the long haul.

What is NGMI?

NGMI — “Not Gonna Make It” — cuts straight to the point. It’s a blunt, often tongue-in-cheek verdict on poor decision-making or a gap in understanding crypto fundamentals. People reach for it to call out behaviors they see as misguided. It’s commonly aimed at “weak hands,” describing those who bail at the first dip — what traders call “paper-handing.” 

It also tags rookie blunders: getting swept up in hype without doing the research, or risking money they can’t afford to lose. Beyond individual choices, NGMI works as a broader social critique, highlighting projects or strategies that seem shortsighted or lacking the conviction needed to survive the volatile Web3 landscape.

When should you use them?

These terms aren’t thrown around randomly; their use tracks with market dynamics and the behavior in play.

You’ll see WAGMI pop up when the market’s enduring a brutal dip and morale needs a lift. It’s also a natural fit when a project hits a major milestone or an NFT’s floor price climbs. In those moments, it becomes a tool to rally the community and encourage holding steady through the uncertainty.

NGMI, on the other hand, tends to surface when people want to spotlight red-flag behaviors — like clicking an obvious phishing link or buying a coin in the heat of a massive pump, driven purely by FOMO. It’s also used to poke fun at those who write off cryptocurrency as a scam or who sell Bitcoin right at a local bottom. Sometimes, it’s even turned inward with self-deprecating humor — say, when someone forgets their wallet password.

Who said it first?

The roots of these phrases stretch beyond finance, back into early internet subcultures.

WAGMI found its stride on 4chan’s /biz/ board and Crypto Twitter between 2017–2019, but it didn’t start in crypto. The phrase first gained traction as a motivational mantra from the late bodybuilder Zyzz (Aziz Shavershian).

NGMI traces its earliest uses to the early 2010s, surfacing in internet aesthetics and fitness culture as a way to critique lapses in gym discipline. From there, it migrated to communities like WallStreetBets before cementing itself in crypto circles by 2021.