# cryptocurrency

Pronunciation: US say "KRIP-toh-kur-uhn-see" /ˈkɹɪp.toʊˌkɝ.ən.si/; UK say "KRIP-toh-ku-ruhn-see" /ˈkɹɪp.təʊˌkʌɹ.ən.si/

## Noun

1. A digital currency based on a cryptographic system, usually with no central authority that issues or regulates it.
   - Simple: Money that exists only on computers, protected by secret codes, with no bank or government in charge.
   - _Investors poured billions into cryptocurrency during the market boom, hoping to catch the next big surge._
   - _The cryptocurrency exchange froze all withdrawals after hackers breached its servers._

## Origin

Formed from crypto- (meaning "cryptographic") combined with currency.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cryptocurrency (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).