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

That’s the implication of a fair-value model for the cryptocurrency that has performed admirably over the years I have been writing about it.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Checkout sites from a fraudulent website will often ask for payment in the form of cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer payment systems or cash apps.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Analysts and investors continue to debate over whether the cryptocurrency market is in the midst of a “crypto winter” or a temporary blip.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

On Tuesday morning, SpaceX shares were trading at about $157 on Hyperliquid External link, a cryptocurrency platform for trading perpetual futures—or futures that never expire.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Bankman-Fried was given a 25-year sentence after he was convicted of multiple federal charges related to FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that he founded and led, and its related company Alameda Research.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026