cryptocurrency

• crypto currency, crypto-currency

From crypto- (“cryptographic”) +‎ currency.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪp.toʊˌkɝ.ən.si/

• Audio (General American):

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cryptocurrency (countable and uncountable, plural cryptocurrencies)

1. A digital currency based on a cryptographic system, usually having no central issuing or regulating authority.

   Synonym: (informal) crypto

   Hypernyms: digital currency, cybercurrency < currency

   Hyponyms: bitcoin, dogecoin

   Bitcoin was the first decentralized cryptocurrency.

   • 1995 July 26, Daniel Akst, “Info Highway May Convert Your PC Into a Gambling Mecca”, in Los Angeles Times‎^[1], archived from the original on 14 February 2023:

     As secure Internet payment systems develop, of course, betting will become easier. And if some form of digital cash—crypto-currency that can be exchanged like cash via the Internet—really does take hold, betting will be even easier still.

   • 2013 November 17, Nick Bilton, “Disruptions: A Digital Underworld Cloaked in Anonymity”, in The New York Times‎^[2], archived from the original on 22 August 2022:

     Then there is bitcoin, the cryptocurrency that has been skyrocketing in value lately. Bitcoin is basically virtual cash — anonymous, untraceable currency stuffed into a mobile wallet.

   • 2023 February 2, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, “Alleged Perpetrator Of $100 Million Crypto Market Manipulation Scheme To Make Initial Appearance In The Southern District Of New York”, in justice.gov‎^[3], sourced from justice.gov, archived from the original on 3 February 2023:

     As alleged in the Indictment filed on January 9, 2023, EISENBERG engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $110 million worth of cryptocurrency from the cryptocurrency exchange Mango Markets and its customers and achieved this objective by artificially manipulating the price of certain perpetual futures contracts.

   • 2023 March 26, Alex Hern, quoting Michael Kagan, “Cryptocurrencies add nothing useful to society, says chip-maker Nvidia”, in The Guardian‎^[4], →ISSN, archived from the original on 31 March 2023:

     The US chip-maker Nvidia has said cryptocurrencies do not “bring anything useful for society” despite the company’s powerful processors selling in huge quantities to the sector.

   • 2023 November 30, Alessandro Mascellino, “North Korean Hackers Amass $3bn in Cryptocurrency Heists”, in Infosecurity Magazine‎^[5], archived from the original on 30 November 2023:

     According to Recorded Future’s research, the regime considers cryptocurrency theft a significant revenue source, primarily funding military and weapons programs.

• cryptocurrency on Wikipedia.Wikipedia