cryptocurrency

noun

cryp·​to·​cur·​ren·​cy ˌkrip-tō-ˈkər-ən(t)-sē 

-ˈkə-rən(t)-sē

plural cryptocurrencies

: any form of currency that only exists digitally, that usually has no central issuing or regulating authority but instead uses a decentralized system to record transactions and manage the issuance of new units, and that relies on cryptography to prevent counterfeiting and fraudulent transactions

Virtual currency bitcoin hit the mainstream in 2014. Bitcoin ATMs started springing up all over the world … , allowing people to exchange cash for the cryptocurrency, a secure digital payment outside of conventional financial institutions.

—Brenda Poppy

Examples of cryptocurrency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wall Street's gains came on Tuesday as tech stocks such as Nvidia rose and bitcoin gained, a day after the flagship cryptocurrency logged its worst day since March. —Tasmin Lockwood,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025

Data centers and cryptocurrency mining. —Berly McCoy, NPR, 3 Dec. 2025

Despite Bitcoin’s recent woes, a new report shows that younger Americans are still eager to see cryptocurrency under the tree this Christmas. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Despite the tumult, Binance has maintained its role as the dominant cryptocurrency platform worldwide, and has continued to expand both its global footprint and its product line. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

crypto- + currency

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cryptocurrency

• eurocurrency
• concurrency
• currency

Kids Definition

cryptocurrency

noun

cryp·​to·​cur·​ren·​cy ˌkrip-tō-ˈkər-ən(t)-sē 

-ˈkə-rən(t)-sē

: any form of currency that only exists digitally, that usually uses a decentralized system for issuing new units and reording transactions, and that relies on cryptography to prevent fraudulent transactions