New: Introducing the world's first secure touchscreen hardware wallets

Shop Now

Up your Web3 game

Ledger Academy Quests

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

Orange Pill Meaning

Jun 4, 2024 | Updated Jun 4, 2024
The term “orange pill” is crypto slang describing a theoretical pill that a Bitcoin diehard takes. It symbolizes their dedication to investing in Bitcoin.

What Is an Orange Pill?

The concept of taking the red pill and the blue pill, originating from the 1999 film, The Matrix, pioneered the “color” pill lingo. Both in the film and internet culture, “taking the red pill” signifies choosing to know an unsettling truth or reality, while “taking the blue pill” represents being content with a false but comforting reality. You may have also  come across the terms  “white pill” and “black pill”, and if you’re a Bitcoin buff, the “orange pill.” 

Thus, inspired by both The Matrix and the Bitcoin logo’s orange color, to be “orange-pilled” or take the “orange pill” means declaring your dedication to Bitcoin or your alignment to Bitcoin’s underlying philosophies. In other words, you begin perceiving things from a different lens – the Bitcoin lens. 

What Is the Phrase Used for?

Taking the orange pill can mean different things to different people. For some, it might mean to:

  • Convince someone to invest in Bitcoin.
  • Educate someone on Bitcoin
  • Declare dedication to investing in or studying Bitcoin.
  • Create curiosity about the orange-logoed cryptocurrency.
  • Believe that Bitcoin is superior to other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies.
  • Help others understand how messy and unfair the traditional financial system is.

Orange-pilled individuals base their arguments on factors such as Bitcoin’s scarce supply, decentralization, network effect, censorship resistance, and reliability as a store of value.

You can “orange-pill” others or be “orange-pilled” yourself. For example;

  • “I orange-pilled my parents/siblings/friends/relatives etc.”
  • “It was actually El Salvador’s stance on crypto that orange-pilled me into all this Bitcoin stuff.”

Sidechain

A sidechain is a secondary blockchain that works alongside a Layer 1 blockchain to improve scalability and functionality by reducing congestion on the main network.

Full definition

Wallet Address

A wallet address is a randomly generated string of characters used to send or receive digital assets.

Full definition

Liquid Staking

Liquid staking is a mechanism that allows users to lock up their cryptocurrency while still retaining their liquidity and tradability.

Full definition