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

LedgerX does business as MIAXdx and is a remnant of defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX that was taken over by Miami International Holdings. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025

The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization traded around at $89,800, down more than 20% over the past month and about 30% off the asset’s record high just north of $126,000 hit in early October. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2025

This was supposed to be the year cryptocurrency, a 16-year-old asset that promised to be the future of finance, came into its own. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025

The incident follows a trend of physical attacks on people who own Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. —Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 24 Nov. 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