Fear as a weapon: when power replaces reason in spot trading.
In the crypto ecosystem, where information circulates at breakneck speeds, fallacies also do. One of the most dangerous is the ad baculum fallacy — appealing to fear or threat to impose an idea — a rhetorical trap that, far from educating the investor, emotionally manipulates them.
The term 'ad baculum', from Latin 'to the stick', describes a form of persuasion based on the use of fear of a negative consequence rather than on solid arguments. In crypto, this translates into phrases like:
“If you don't buy now, you'll be left out forever. All the big players have already entered!”
Covert manipulation in the spot market.
In spot trading, where you actually buy and hold the asset, the psychological pressure from social media, signal groups, and even 'certified' influencers can lead to impulsive decisions. According to Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy:
“FOMO can be as destructive as a market crash. It pushes you to act without fundamentals.”
An emblematic case was the narrative built during the announcement of institutional investment in BTC in 2021. Many users were induced to buy spot at prices of $60K with messages like:
“If you don't buy now, you'll never be able to have 1 BTC. The dollar will die.”
Weeks later, the price collapsed, leaving thousands trapped in unrealized losses for acting under emotional pressure.
Experts warn: authority does not replace analysis.
Analyst Scott Melker (The Wolf of All Streets) has warned that decisions should be based on data, not on threats.
“When someone tells you ‘do it or you'll lose’, ask yourself why they need to pressure you.”
