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

As for crypto, 83 House Democrats embarrassingly joined the Republicans to pass the CLARITY Act that would preside over the dissolution of financial protections for the American bank and retirement fund user. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

If the networks are enabling agents to buy from merchants, the crypto industry is taking it one step further. — Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Its retail users have likely been trading crypto for many years. — Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 10 July 2026

The crypto firm is far from the last to have sent out entirely incorrect new alerts. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 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