crypto

1 of 2

noun

cryp·​to ˈkrip-(ˌ)tō 

plural cryptos

1

: 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

2

: cryptography sense 2

3

: 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

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 tokens hold the promise of stability in face of high volatility in the crypto market, but have instead brought chaos in the past. —Zinnia Lee, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Once that buyer begins to cash out, the crypto is likely to see its value collapse. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2024

While some may see it as an upside that crypto is largely unregulated, that can bring some downsides as well. —Becca Stanek, theweek, 25 Sep. 2024

Lau also cited muted trading volume on crypto exchanges and pressure on subscription and services revenue due to the declining interest rate outlook. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2024

Ellison, the former chief executive of FTX's sister firm and crypto hedge fund Alameda Research turned romance novelist, has described herself as a remorseful participant in the fraud. —Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024

The day after federal agents arrested a man who had spent nearly twelve hours hiding outside the former President’s West Palm Beach golf course with an assault rifle, Trump appeared on an X live stream to promote a new crypto outfit, World Liberty Financial. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024

But one brutal gang took that form of thievery to a new level of cruelty and violence, breaking into a series of victims' homes to threaten and extort them into handing over their crypto holdings, sometimes even resorting to kidnapping and torture. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 21 Sep. 2024

During this same period, many called on PSPs to begin accepting stablecoin crypto payments in the same way. —Shailesh Kunnath, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Combining form

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

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

crypto

noun

cryp·​to ˈkrip-(ˌ)tō 

: cryptosporidium sense 2

also : cryptosporidiosis