IYKYK is a popular acronym that stands for “If You Know, You Know”. When used in chats, it refers to someone having insider knowledge, insights, or experiences about a particular matter. People in the crypto community use it to make others feel like they belong, making them part of an inner circle that has exclusive knowledge. They used it to hint at trends, opportunities, or memes without explicit explanation, subtly leveraging their knowledge within the group.
The term is more commonly used in internet lingo, and its origins could be traced back to early 2016, when it was used to reference niche or ironic shared experiences. It got popular in the crypto circles around 2021, during the peak of the NFT boom and meme coin craze. Incidentally, its usage became more frequent during the Dogecoin pump caused by Elon Musk’s tweets and the rise of exclusive NFT drops, where communities used IYKYK to create hype and exclusivity.
On social media platforms like X, Discord, and Telegram, IYKYK appears in posts teasing potential value or inside jokes, often in NFT circles or trading chats, to imply, “This is for the real ones.” So, if you see a post that reads, “Just aped into this gem at launch… IYKYK,” it would imply that the person is hinting at a potentially lucrative but obscure token without revealing details, encouraging FOMO. Or if you see “Bitcoin to $100K? IYKYK.” The phrase could have a sarcastic connotation, poking fun at optimists who believed their predictions would come true.
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