The Cynical Code: 7 Reasons Why 'ABC Always Be Cheating' Became A Global Meme

The phrase 'ABC: Always Be Cheating' has transcended its origins as a niche gaming meme to become a cynical, yet widely recognizable, internet philosophy as of late 2025. This mantra, which paradoxically encourages players to exploit game mechanics to their fullest, is a perfect encapsulation of modern online culture, where efficiency and winning often overshadow fair play.

The core intention behind the phrase is not necessarily malicious hacking, but rather an aggressive form of meta-gaming—finding and utilizing every possible advantage the developers leave on the table. Understanding this code requires looking at the man who coined it and the various real-world scandals and market trends, from cryptocurrency to network television, that have adopted its provocative acronym.

The Architect of Cynicism: Zack "Asmongold" Hoyt

The phrase "ABC: Always Be Cheating" is most famously attributed to the American Twitch streamer and content creator, Zack Hoyt, better known by his online pseudonym, Asmongold.

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Asmongold's content is primarily focused on massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), particularly *World of Warcraft* (*WoW*), where his streams have amassed millions of followers.

His persona is built around an honest, often cynical, and highly critical view of game developers, the gaming industry, and life in general.

Asmongold's Profile: A Quick Look

• Real Name: Zackariah "Zack" Hoyt
• Pseudonym: Asmongold
• Born: April 20, 1990
• Nationality: American
• Hometown: Austin, Texas
• Primary Content: Twitch streaming, YouTube videos, known for *World of Warcraft* and reaction content.
• Key Phrases: "ABC: Always Be Cheating," "One-Shot," "Look at the top of his head."
• Career Highlight: Co-founder of the popular content creator organization, OTK (One True King).

The "ABC" phrase became a staple of his community, often used to justify or explain highly efficient, but sometimes questionable, strategies in *WoW* that exploit weak points in the game's design, leading to faster progression or better loot.

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The Cynical Philosophy of 'ABC' in Gaming Culture

In the gaming community, "Always Be Cheating" is less about using external hacks and more about a controversial concept known as "ethical exploiting" or "meta-gaming." This philosophy argues that if a game design flaw or unintended mechanic exists, players are not only justified in using it but are foolish *not* to.

This worldview is a direct response to the perceived failures of game developers to create a perfectly balanced experience, pushing the responsibility onto the player to maximize their advantage.

The Core Tenets of 'Ethical Exploiting'

The "ABC" mantra highlights several critical areas where players feel compelled to "cheat" or exploit:

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• Time-to-Reward Ratio: Players are often incentivized to find the fastest path to the best rewards, bypassing intended content. This includes speedrunning techniques applied to everyday gameplay.
• Loot Box and Microtransaction Systems: The phrase can be applied to finding ways to circumvent or minimize spending on predatory microtransactions and loot boxes by exploiting in-game currency loops.
• Unintended Mechanics: When a specific class ability or item combination creates an overpowered (OP) effect, players who use it are seen as following the "ABC" code, even if it breaks the spirit of the game.
• The "Snowball" Effect: The idea suggests that once a single player or group begins exploiting, everyone else must follow suit to remain competitive, creating a cheating culture that becomes the new norm.

In this context, the phrase is a critique of the game itself, suggesting that the most efficient way to play is inherently flawed. It turns the traditional moral imperative of fair play on its head, replacing it with a ruthless focus on winning.

From Meme to Market: The 'Always Be Cheating' Crypto Token Trend

The provocative nature of the "ABC: Always Be Cheating" acronym has naturally spilled over into the world of decentralized finance, specifically the volatile meme coin market.

In the spirit of internet culture, a number of cryptocurrency tokens have appeared with the "ABC" symbol, trading on the notoriety of the phrase. While some have different names, such as "Always Bidding Crypto" or "Always Be Coding," the original "Always Be Cheating" concept resonates with the cynical, high-risk nature of the meme coin space.

As of late 2025, various tokens using the ABC symbol have been tracked on platforms like CoinGecko and Phantom, typically exhibiting extremely low market capitalization (often under $30,000) and high volatility, a clear sign of their meme-driven, speculative nature.

The Broader Cultural Impact of the 'ABC' Acronym

Beyond gaming and crypto, the "ABC" acronym has been repurposed in mainstream conversation, often as a cynical pun, demonstrating its penetration into broader media literacy:

• Media Scandals: The phrase was frequently used in online discussions to mock the ABC News network during the T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach relationship scandal, where the acronym was a perfect, albeit cruel, fit for the infidelity allegations.
• Business and Sales: It's a dark parody of the classic sales mantra "ABC: Always Be Closing," from the film *Glengarry Glen Ross*, suggesting that in the modern world, cutthroat tactics are the true path to success.
• Online Debates: The phrase is now a shorthand for any situation where a person is perceived to be gaming a system, whether it’s exploiting a tax loophole, finding a glitch in a new app, or using an unfair advantage in a competitive setting like eSports.

The enduring popularity of "ABC: Always Be Cheating" lies in its ability to capture the zeitgeist of a generation that views institutions, whether they are game developers, financial markets, or media organizations, with inherent skepticism. It's a rallying cry for the power gamer and the crypto degen alike, encouraging them to exploit the system before the system exploits them.