Cryptocurrency
/ˌkrɪp.təʊˈkʌr.ən.si/noun
A digital currency secured by cryptography, typically operating independently of a central bank.
Did you know?The first half comes from Greek *kryptós* meaning “hidden” or “secret,” so the word literally points to concealment — a perfect fit for money designed to be hard to trace.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kryptós
“hidden, secret”
Late Greek
Greek
kryptós + khrūsós?
“No established historical coinage stage; the modern term is a compound built much later, with the first element meaning hidden and the second from currency terms”
Latin/French
Latin/French
currens / currency
“flowing, circulating; money in circulation”
1980s
English
cryptography
“the practice of writing or solving codes”
2009+
English
cryptocurrency
“digital currency secured by cryptography”