Key points (TL;DR)

Why is there no single answer?

A holding period depends on why you bought. Money for a house deposit next year needs a different plan from money set aside for 10 years. That is why Step S of the SHIFT Method, setting your plan in writing, comes before any decision about how long to hold.

Watch: Ben Simpson on this topic

Key takeaway: Ben starts with market cycles: crypto moves through repeating phases, and the periods that feel worst to buy are often where long-term investors build positions.

Key takeaway: Ben starts with the purpose of the money, then layers three triggers: a regular selling schedule, price targets and profit thresholds, so selling follows a plan rather than a feeling.

How do market cycles affect how long you hold?

Crypto has tended to move through repeating cycles of rising prices, peaks, falls and recovery. Ben explains in the video below that the periods that feel worst to buy have often been where long-term investors built positions, and the periods of euphoria are where a sell plan matters most.

Planning around cycles means holding through normal swings and taking profits in steps as prices rise. See our crypto exit strategy guide.

Does holding for 12 months matter for tax?

Yes. In Australia you must own a CGT asset for at least 12 months before the CGT event to use the 50% CGT discount or, for gains accruing from 1 July 2027, cost base indexation, according to the ATO. Tax is one input, not the only reason to hold.

See our guide to the 2027 capital gains tax changes and crypto tax when taking profits.

How long do you hold Bitcoin compared with altcoins?

• Bitcoin: Step H of the SHIFT Method is to hold Bitcoin as your core, usually for the long term and ideally in self-custody. See how much Bitcoin to hold.
• Altcoins: these are usually held while the original reason for buying still stands, with profits taken in steps on the way up.
• Review each one: if the reason you bought has changed, the holding period should too. See Bitcoin versus altcoins.

How do you avoid “hold and hope”?

Ben describes “hold and hope” as the habit that quietly erodes returns: a coin rises, you do not sell, it falls, and you hold because selling now feels wrong. The fix is to set triggers in advance: a regular selling schedule, price targets and profit thresholds.

“Your sales strategy needs to match reality.”

Ben Simpson, founder of Collective Shift

What is your next step?

If you would like a structured way to apply a holding plan for each coin, the Collective Shift Accelerator membership runs for 12 months and opens with 4 live cohort weeks, followed by ongoing access to research, workshops and the Live Crypto Portfolio (see our analysts’ portfolio buys and sells). It carries a 14-day guarantee. You can read member results from members, or check the company facts on our page Is Collective Shift legit?

Where this guide comes from

• Collective Shift Academy: the 5-step SHIFT Method and Strategy Sheet
• Write Your Sell Plan Live: The Trim Ladder Workshop, Collective Shift members’ workshop, 19 Oct 2026
• Australian Taxation Office, Tax reform: reforming negative gearing and capital gains tax, and Capital gains tax guidance (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
• YouTube: I'd Invest $50,000 In Crypto Like This (My Exact 4-Part System), Ben Simpson, 2026-04-19
• YouTube: My Crypto Profit-Taking Strategy: When and How Much to Sell, Ben Simpson, 2026-10-13

Collective Shift live sessions and Academy lessons are available to members. This guide is general education only and is not personal financial advice.

Last updated 31 Oct 2026. Written by Ben Simpson, Founder and CEO of Collective Shift.

General information only. Collective Shift provides research and education, not personal financial advice. We don’t manage your money or hold your crypto. Consider your own circumstances and speak with a licensed adviser and a registered tax agent before acting. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.