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

The three men allegedly conspired to kidnap and rob people of their cryptocurrency in San Francisco, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Los Angeles, the office said. —Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

Its customers include large financial institutions, including the global cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, and Dabitz says the bank is processing billions of euros, while growing 10x year over year. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Ohio sculptor Alan Cottrill was commissioned by cryptocurrency group $PATRIOT for the project, but the two had a copyright and payment disagreement that delayed its debut. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 11 May 2026

Funding for the deal, the company said, would come at least in part from cryptocurrency investors. —Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 11 May 2026

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