cryptocurrency
cryptocurrency — noun
- cryptocurrencysingular
- cryptocurrenciesplural
1. a type of electronic money that exists only on computer networks, using cryptogr
a type of electronic money that exists only on computer networks, using cryptography to confirm transactions and prevent fraud, without a central bank or government running the system
Liang bought his first cryptocurrency with money he saved from his summer job.
countable use: 'a cryptocurrency' as one type
The coffee shop on Elm Street now lets customers pay with cryptocurrency.
uncountable use: 'pay with cryptocurrency' as the medium
Dewi lost her phone and could not access the cryptocurrency in her digital wallet.
More online stores are starting to accept cryptocurrency instead of regular money.
- digital currency
broader term that includes any electronic money; cryptocurrency is a specific type that uses cryptography
- virtual currency
also broader; often used for in-game or platform-specific money, while cryptocurrency implies blockchain technology
- crypto
informal short form; suitable for casual conversation but not formal writing
- fiat currency
government-issued money that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as the US dollar or the New Taiwan dollar
用法筆記
Can be used as a countable noun (different types of cryptocurrency, e.g. 'Bitcoin is one cryptocurrency') or an uncountable noun (the system in general, e.g. 'She invests in cryptocurrency'). Frequently appears before another noun as a modifier: cryptocurrency market, cryptocurrency wallet.