crypto

1 of 2

noun

cryp·​to ˈkrip-(ˌ)tō 

plural cryptos

1

: cryptocurrency

A specialty finance firm … is the first to offer brokers the option to get their commissions paid up front, in crypto, underscoring how digital coins are becoming a more mainstream part of financial transactions.

—Jennifer Schonberger

—often used before another noun

crypto assets

the crypto market

2

: cryptography sense 2

3

: a person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect, or other group

And jaws dropped, he said, when he explained the theory that Christopher Columbus was a "crypto" or hidden Jew.

—Kim Vo

crypto-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or before a vowel crypt-

1

: hidden : covered

cryptogenic

2

: hidden by dissembling : unavowed

crypto-fascist

3

: cryptographic

cryptanalysis

Examples of crypto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The system is the newest generation of multi-band, multi-mission, airborne communications systems with Type 1 crypto modernization. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025

Unsurprisingly, David Sacks, a venture capitalist serving as the White House’s crypto and AI czar, is expected to be at the event. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025

Europe’s MiCA framework now treats crypto platforms much like traditional financial entities, imposing licensing and transparency requirements on them. —Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Egyptian law enforcement officials raided Streameast offices and seized three laptops and four smartphones used to operate the sites, as well as 10 Visa cards that had about $123,000 in total as well as about $200,000 in crypto wallets, according to ACE. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(senses 1 & 2) by shortening; (sense 3) independent use of crypto-

Combining form

combining form from Greek kryptós "hidden, secret" — more at crypt

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Medical Definition

crypto

noun

cryp·​to ˈkrip-(ˌ)tō 

: cryptosporidium sense 2

also : cryptosporidiosis