In the cryptocurrency world, the word Ape or apeing implies a high-risk investment behavior. If someone is apeing into a project, it means they are buying a token or NFT on impulse. This is often done as soon as a new token launches, giving the investor very little time for deep research.
The term signifies a no-brainer approach to investing, but it isn’t always used as an insult. It captures the spirit of FOMO or the fear of missing out. When a new coin starts trending on social media, investors “ape in” because they are afraid the price will skyrocket before they have time to read the technical details. It represents a “buy first, ask questions later” mentality.
You will typically see this term used on social media posts like, “What are we apeing into today?” to ask which new, hype-driven coins are worth a gamble. It is also used among DeFi circles; when a new platform offers high rewards, people ape their funds into it to catch the initial wave of profits. But the term was immortalized by the Bored Ape Yacht Club, in the NFT space. Here it generally describes the rush to mint or buy a digital collectible based purely on the hype of the art or community.
In short, apeing is the crypto version of a blind leap of faith. While it can lead to possible gains if you get in early on a project, it is also the quickest way to lose money to scams or sudden market swings.