virtual currency

American  

[vur-choo-uhl kur-uhn-see, kuhr-] / ˈvɜr tʃu əl ˈkɜr ən si, ˈkʌr- /

noun

1. an unregulated currency available only in electronic form that is issued and controlled by its developers and usually used within a specific online community.

   The game is free to play, but you must make purchases in the app if you want virtual currency to spend.

   As a virtual currency, bitcoin has less stability than a currency issued by a central bank.

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Usage

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

Etymology

Origin of virtual currency

First recorded in 1995–2000

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

virtual currency

While it is free to use, players can purchase a virtual currency that allows them to buy specific upgrades.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

But the recent action for bitcoin should lead to some deep thinking, especially for investors who might still be sitting on huge gains for their holdings of the virtual currency.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 6, 2026

In a separate U.S. sanctions announcement in September this year, the U.S. said it was used for virtual currency scams and was linked to another Cambodian tycoon who was under American sanctions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025

The lawsuits were filed by 13 states separately and in the District of Columbia, where the attorney general also accused the company of running an unlicensed money transmission business via its "virtual currency" offering.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2024

Included in Monday’s sanctions are a group of Moscow-based fintech companies and a Russia and UAE-based virtual currency exchange, among others.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 25, 2024

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