Who exactly should be referred to as a
HODLER? As we already know, hodlers are people who hodl bitcoin for long periods of time; they are determined not to sell for the long term irrespective of the price change.
Now here comes my question: If those who buy and hodl their coins on a noncustodial wallet where they have full control over the coin are referred to as hodlers, are those who also hodl under a custodial service where they don’t have full control of the coins also regarded as hodlers?
If you leave your coins on a custodial exchange, the exchange is the one holding your coins and not you. What's available in your balance is what they can manually input. Since you don't have full control of the coin, you shouldn't be considered a hodler.
Not your keys, not your coins (and not being a HODLer)
Your keys, your coins (and you are HODLer)
If you're not the holder of your private key then you're not the holder of those coins. The exchange could decide to block your account and if you fail to meet up the KYC requirements you might end up losing your coins. The best way to hold your coins is when you have full control over your private key and coin its safer that way. Considering the risk of losing your coin, why would anyone still go ahead to make such decisions. Coins should be kept in an exchange for the purpose of exchange and then moved to your noncustodial wallet. People loss access to their coins because they fail to meet these requirements and yet more person still take the risk to store their coins in an exchange. Bitcoin was created so we can have full control access without invoking a third party, so making use of an exchange is overriding the purpose to which it was built for.