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

The bitcoin-hoarding firm says it sold the cryptocurrency to fund distributions on its preferred stock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The world’s first, and still the largest, cryptocurrency slipped below the $72,000 dollar mark on Monday, extending its one-month slump to around 6.7%.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

But the idea wasn’t implemented until the 2010s, after the birth of the cryptocurrency market.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

The shares of Gemini Space Station, the parent company that operates the cryptocurrency exchange, gained 5% Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Soon quantum machines may be able to break the encryption which protects everything from cryptocurrency transactions to private messages.

From BBC • May 28, 2026