cryptocurrency

[ krip-toh-kur-uhn-see, -kuhr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

currency that exists only in electronic form, operates on a decentralized system of exchange, and uses advanced cryptography for security, or any individual currency of this type: Compare digital currency ( def ), virtual currency ( def ).altcoin ( def ), bitcoin ( def 1 ).
Some expect cryptocurrency to become the dominant means of financing trade between markets.
This particular cryptocurrency has a huge following among retail traders.

being or relating to virtual currency that uses advanced cryptography for security:
They are one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges on the internet.
She got caught running a cryptocurrency scam.

What's the difference between cryptocurrency, virtual currency, and digital currency? See digital currency ( def ).

First recorded in 2005–10; crypto- + currency

That option: Bitcoin— a decentralized, mathematically-mined cryptocurrency created in 2009.

If you dare to go on, be warned: you will never say “cryptocurrency” the same.

Compared to Liberty, Bitcoin is an even more decentralized type of digital currency known as a cryptocurrency.

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