Somehow the Chinese phrases 内卷 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neijuan and 摆烂 ("let it rot" https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%93%BA%E7%88%9B) are quite appropriately used, even in stylistic tone. Don't know how much Chinese geohot actually speaks but it's a nice touch.
The English article for "let it rot" (or a related phrase) seems to be here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping
In my interpretation, 躺平 (tang ping / "lay flat") and 摆烂 (bai lan / ..."let it rot" I guess) overlap in meanings in the "do nothing" aspect, but in the tang ping / lay flat case, it is out of learned helplessness / nihilism, while bai lan / let it rot case, it is out of purposeful negligence / noncompliance, which suits geohot's vibe
"Involution" is spot on.
Thanks for the references.