Veteran trader Peter Brandt delivered a sharp critique of Bitcoin holders this week. According to posts on X, Brandt, a septuagenarian with more than 800,000 followers, lashed out at those who “hodl” through thick and thin.
He called them “a bunch of idiots who borrow money to buy pizza.” His message was blunt. He urged people to “get a life,” warning that faith in Bitcoin as a cure-all will leave many disappointed.
I have had it up to the tip of my head with people on Twitter X
Have a nice life
— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) August 5, 2025
Trader Slams Hodl Mentality
Brandt argued that Bitcoin is “just an asset” and nothing more. He stressed that treating it like a miracle fix gives the crypto community a bad image.
Reports have disclosed that he’s grown tired of endless debates online. “I have had it up to the tip of my head with people on Twitter X,” Brandt wrote, suggesting that constant arguing was driving him up the wall. His tone left little room for polite debate.
A counter to the Bitcoin “Hodl-or-does-not-count” crowd
I began futures trading in 1975 at the Chicago Board of Trade with maybe a thousand dollars in my checking account and little to no savings
If Bitcoin has been around at the time and I would have put all my money into it I…— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) August 5, 2025
Overnight, replies flooded in. Some praised his honesty. Others snapped back with equally harsh words. Others defended Bitcoin as more than charts and price swings.
The back-and-forth underscored a split: traders who focus on risk and charts versus holders who see crypto as a movement.
Community Pushback On X
Across the crypto world, Brandt’s comments stirred a wave of reactions. According to data on social media engagement, his post attracted hundreds of replies within hours.
Many messages mixed humor and anger, with memes featuring pizza and margin calls. Others pointed to Bitcoin’s gains this year, noting it has climbed more than 50% since January. That rise fueled confidence among hodlers—and a readiness to push back against Brandt’s barbs.
Despite the heat, Brandt held his ground. He pressed on, saying that tying one’s identity too closely to Bitcoin’s price is a mistake.
His warning was an echo of a broader caution in trading circles: markets can turn on a dime. Brandt’s straight talk cut through hype and spin, but it also risked widening the gap between chart watchers and true believers.
Bitcoin is an asset, circulating on a network, governed by a protocol, and rooted in ideology.
— Michael Saylor (@saylor) August 6, 2025
Saylor Offers A Balanced View
In the face of the storm, US President Donald Trump’s former business confidante Michael Saylor weighed in—though without naming Brandt directly.
Based on reports, Saylor described Bitcoin as “an asset, circulating on a network, governed by a protocol, and rooted in ideology.”
He struck a middle ground by acknowledging both the market’s technical side and its passionate supporters.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView