New: Wallet recovery made easy with Ledger Recover, provided by Coincover

Get started

Up your Web3 game

Ledger Academy Quests

  • Test your knowledge
  • Earn POK NFTs
Play now See all quests

Bitcoin OG Meaning

Mar 1, 2024 | Updated Mar 1, 2024
Bitcoin OG, short for “Original Gangsta” or "Original Gangster,” is slang for the earliest adopters of the cryptocurrency.

What Is an OG in Bitcoin?

OG, short for “Original Gangsta” or “Original Gangster,” is a colloquial term derived from the pop culture lingo. It describes or acknowledges an individual regarded as a founding figure, veteran, or pioneer in something unique. Generally speaking, it acknowledges their authenticity, expertise, and influence within that space or industry.

In the blockchain context, the term OG can denote the original or “original gangsta” blockchain (OG blockchain), in which case, Bitcoin is the OG of all blockchains. It can also refer to the crypto “original gangster” (crypto OG), where Bitcoin is the OG crypto as it was the first successful decentralized digital currency to come into existence.

Therefore, a crypto OG would be slang for a founder of any of the earliest blockchain networks. It also describes any original participant(s) or adopter(s) of the earliest cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. These individuals contributed to the development, growth, and evolution of some of the earliest blockchains before they gained mainstream adoption. 

Following this logic, anybody who interacted with Bitcoin between its inception in 2009 and 2017 earned the title of Bitcoin OG. They embody unwavering conviction, perseverance, and resilience in the persisting face of adversity and skepticism towards the original blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Genesis Block

A genesis block is the first ever block recorded on a blockchain. The block is also known as Block 0 or Block 1.

Full definition

Deflationary Asset

A deflationary asset is a digital or virtual currency designed to decrease in supply over time, leading to an increase in its value.

Full definition

Shanghai Upgrade

The Shanghai Upgrade is an upgrade on the Ethereum network that allows stakers and validators to unstake and withdraw their staked Ether.

Full definition