cryptocurrency

American  

[krip-toh-kur-uhn-see, -kuhr-] / ˈkrɪp toʊˌkɜr ən si, -ˌkʌr- /

noun

1. currency that exists only in electronic form, operates on a decentralized system of exchange, and uses advanced cryptography for security, or any individual currency of this type.

   Some expect cryptocurrency to become the dominant means of financing trade between markets.

   This particular cryptocurrency has a huge following among retail traders.

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adjective

1. being or relating to virtual currency that uses advanced cryptography for security.

   They are one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges on the internet.

   She got caught running a cryptocurrency scam.

Usage

What's the difference between cryptocurrency, virtual currency, and digital currency? See digital currency ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of cryptocurrency

First recorded in 2005–10; crypto- + currency

Explanation

Cryptocurrency is a form of payment that's entirely digital, moving from one computer to another. The most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was also the first ever created. Cryptocurrency gets its name from the cryptography or encryption used to protect digital "coins" and all information exchanged when they're traded. At the heart of the word is crypto-, from the Greek kryptos, "hidden or concealed." Cryptocurrency proponents emphasize its security, and the benefit of trading without the interference of banks or governments. Critics warn that investing real money in cryptocurrency is risky; in 2022, people lost a total of about $2 trillion using the digital exchanges.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cryptocurrency

Witkoff co-founded World Liberty, a cryptocurrency company, with Trump and his family members in 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

That also led, this week, to an unveiling of what the younger Biden is really selling: a cryptocurrency token, themed around the device that brought him such notoriety.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

A Singaporean man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a racketeering conspiracy charge in the US for organising one of the biggest ever cryptocurrency thefts.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Within hours the hackers had drained his cryptocurrency accounts of £18,000 of savings and disappeared.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Prediction markets, increased trading activity and growing assets led one Wall Street bank to boost its rating on Robinhood Markets even as cryptocurrency volumes decline.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026