Internet
shill
What does shill mean?
To hype a cryptocurrency, frequently because you hold it or are paid to. A 'shill' is the person doing the promoting.
"Every influencer in my feed is shilling the same coin today — stay careful."
Origin
An old American carnival and gambling term for a fake customer who lures real ones in. Crypto adopted it for hype-men and paid promoters, especially during ICO and memecoin manias.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'shill' mean in crypto?
It means aggressively hyping a coin, usually one you own, so others buy and the price goes up. Shillers often hide their self-interest.
Is calling someone a shill an insult?
Yes — it accuses them of dishonestly promoting something for personal gain while pretending to be neutral.
Where does 'shill' come from?
From old carnival and gambling slang for a fake customer planted to lure real ones into spending money.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
