[Ads-l] crypto

[Barretts Mail]

The online Oxford Dictionaries (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/crypto <https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/crypto>) and Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crypto <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crypto>) both have “crypto” as a noun, meaning essentially “someone who secretly supports X”. See, among other ADS posts, Victor Steinbok’s e-mail message (http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2012-January/115952.html <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2012-January/115952.html>) and Ben Zimmer’s post (http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2008-January/078269.html <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2008-January/078269.html>) about crypto-. 

The world of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin and that ilk) also uses the word “crypto” to describe that world, with “crypto-“ derived from cryptography as cryptographic systems are employed in various ways for their creation and utilization. (This leaves the possibility that something like “alt” will be needed if non-cryptographic altcurrencies are developed.)

On April 12, Roger Aitken wrote a Forbes article titled "Cryptocurrency Boom Predicted By Bitcoin Market Data CEO Confirmed, Trend 'Set To Continue’” (http://bit.ly/2qZXEUl <http://bit.ly/2qZXEUl>) using the word “crypto” as a standalone attributive, a hyphenated term, and an unhyphenated prefix:

——
crypto acceptance
crypto assets
crypto market/s
crypto space
crypto traders

‘crypto-financial’ games
crypto-trading [hyphen at the end of a line]
a crypto-market intelligence start-up

alt-crypto market

cryptocurrency/ies
the number two crypto currency
altcoin cryptocurrency capitalization
cryptocurrency altcoin markets
cryptocurrency investment
cryptocurrency sector

one misspelling: cryto market

——

The terms “cryptosphere" and “cryptoworld" are also in use, variously with a space, no space and a hyphen.

Benjamin Barrett
Formerly of Seattle, WA
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org