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

Coinbase has pledged another $25 million in spending ahead of this year's midterms as the crypto industry presses Congress to pass new digital-asset rules. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

As Rolling Stone detailed last October, Iza built a fortune off crypto while living in California, claiming a net worth of $700 million and moving into a mansion in Bel Air where Prince once lived. — Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026

A lot of crypto’s advocates within the administration have departed recently. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Since the beginning of the year, several heavyweights in crypto and traditional finance have made moves in tokenized equities. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

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