---
title: "Investment thoughts on the longest chain rule"
type: "Topics"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/topics/36874831.md"
description: "In the world of BTC, there is a consensus called the "longest chain rule", which means that Bitcoin nodes will calculate the cumulative work (total work / cumulative difficulty) of the entire chain from the genesis block to the current block. The chain with the highest cumulative work is the main chain. If a fork occurs in the main chain, miners worldwide will collectively choose to continue on the chain with the highest cumulative work (highest cumulative difficulty), while all investments in the other forked short chain will be wiped out..."
datetime: "2025-12-03T09:25:56.000Z"
locales:
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/topics/36874831.md)
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/36874831.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/36874831.md)
author: "[lyhalfway](https://longbridge.com/en/profiles/3372973.md)"
---

> Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/36874831.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/36874831.md)


# Investment thoughts on the longest chain rule

In the world of BTC, there is a consensus called the "longest chain rule", which means that Bitcoin nodes will calculate the cumulative work (total work / cumulative difficulty) of the entire chain from the genesis block to the current block. The chain with the highest cumulative work is the main chain. If a fork occurs in the main chain, miners worldwide will collectively choose to extend the chain with the highest cumulative work (highest cumulative difficulty), while all investments in the other forked short chain will be wiped out.

This is actually a consensus rule with practical significance:

\- "Highest cumulative work" means the track/company with the most cumulative real money, time, and professional capability,

\- "Only the heaviest chain is recognized after a fork" means the market ultimately only gives a premium to the true winner, while others are wiped out.

Invest money in directions that "others may not understand in the short term but are almost impossible to surpass in the long run," rather than directions that are "the hottest and easiest to make money now." If you find that the assets you hold are on a "short chain" (where the moat is being rapidly eroded and competitors can easily replicate it), you should exit even if the price is low. On the other hand, long-chain assets may be expensive temporarily but are worth holding for the long term.

### Related Stocks

- [Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BTC.US.md)
- [American Bitcoin Corp. (ABTC.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ABTC.US.md)
- [Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GBTC.US.md)
- [Sharplink, Inc. (SBET.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SBET.US.md)

## Comments (3)

- **岸皙 · 2025-12-03T12:55:24.000Z · 👍 1**: Buy when no one is interested, sell when the crowd is euphoric
- **猛男007 · 2025-12-03T09:40:26.000Z**: Except for the king of coins, the rest are all knockoffs
- **RH哥哥 · 2025-12-03T09:39:57.000Z · 👍 10**: Serious research and deep thinking form strong beliefs, and it's hard to put them into practice, but once achieved, it's very rewarding.