Good question. I also want to know how long a person needs to HODL his bitcoins to be considered a HODLer. Can one HODL for 6 months and still be seen as a HODLer?
I have been thinking that since keeping your bitcoins aside for 6 months cannot be considered trading, it should then be HODLing. I will welcome a contrary opinion because I am here to learn.
About where the HODLer chooses to store his bitcoins, I have always thought that it doesn't matter. Now I am seeing many contrary opinions. I too wish to know what people who store their bitcoins in wallets they do not have overall control over the private keys are called. Or are they just wasting their time?
Honestly I think the term holder is more about the mindset and the time span than where you put your cash, Whether it’s in an exchange or a private wallet if you’ve held onto your Bitcoin without selling during dips and pumps that shows HODL behavior. As for time six months could count depending on circumstances but most people conceive of at least a year or more as actual holding and certainly not having control of your private keys isn’t ideal but I wouldn’t say those folks are wasting their time they’re just incurring greater risk.