noun

crypto

KRIP-toh

Crypto (noun) means Digital money that exists only as records on a computer network, kept secure by mathematics rather than issued or guaranteed by a government or bank. Example: “He keeps a small amount of crypto on an exchange and the rest offline.”

noun

informal Digital money that exists only as records on a computer network, kept secure by mathematics rather than issued or guaranteed by a government or bank.

"He keeps a small amount of crypto on an exchange and the rest offline."

"Her salary is paid in pounds, but she converts part of it into crypto."

The wider industry, technology and community built around cryptocurrencies.

"She left banking to work in crypto."

"Crypto has been through several boom-and-bust cycles."

technical, dated in this sense Cryptography: the study and practice of encoding information so that only intended parties can read it.

"The paper was published at a crypto conference in the 1990s."

How to Use Crypto

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoney that only exists on computers and is kept safe by clever maths.

When to use it

"Crypto" is the everyday short form; "cryptocurrency" is the fuller, more formal word. Cryptographers sometimes object to the newer sense, since "crypto" long meant cryptography in their field.

Memory tip

Crypto is normally uncountable: say "some crypto" or "a lot of crypto", not "three cryptos". For individual currencies, use "coins" or "tokens".

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

cryptocurrency cryptography blockchain → token →

Common pairings

crypto wallet crypto exchange crypto market invest in crypto crypto crash crypto winter

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Test yourself on “crypto” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He keeps a small amount of _____ on an exchange and the rest offline.

Etymology

A shortening of cryptocurrency, itself from crypto- (from Greek kruptos, hidden) plus currency, so named because the system relies on cryptography.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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cryptocurrency digital currency virtual currency coin token the crypto industry the crypto sector digital assets cryptography encryption

Antonyms

fiat currency cash

Related Words

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between crypto and blockchain?

Crypto usually means the digital money itself, while a blockchain is the shared record-keeping system that money runs on. Every cryptocurrency uses some kind of blockchain or similar ledger, but blockchains can also be used to record things that are not money, such as ownership or supply-chain data.

Is crypto the same thing as Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is one cryptocurrency, the first widely used one, described in a 2008 whitepaper published under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. "Crypto" is the general category, which now covers thousands of different currencies and tokens.

Why is it called crypto?

Because the system depends on cryptography, the mathematics of encoding information. Cryptographic signatures prove who owns what and stop the same coin being spent twice, without a bank checking the records.

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