<p>It's called crypto-currency, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-currency">Wikipedia article</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-17T15:10:42.000Z
As there are no crypto-currencies that are not decentralized, this is probably the shortest of the proper terms we can use so far, but that might change in the future to "distributed crypto-currency", as pointer out by nanotube.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-18T03:09:39.760Z
"As there are no crypto-currencies that are not decentralized" <- this is false. see, e.g., loom.cc.
nanotube
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-16T23:16:13.377Z
2011-10-16T23:16:13.377Z
Serith
<p>I use "chain currencies". There are precedents for crypto currencies. OT currencies are also crypto-currencies.
Ripple IOUs use cryptoGraphy in the distributed protocol too. The uniqueness is definitely in the block chain. 
I often refer to them as just "coins" since most of them are called SomethingCoin.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-07-06T22:56:15.403Z
2012-10-11T20:47:21.580Z
2012-10-11T20:47:21.580Z
jtimon
<p>I think crypto-currency is the good term.</p>

<p>But personnally I tend to use digital currency because crypto can scare some users.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-16T23:17:09.203Z
2011-10-16T23:17:09.203Z
dunand
<p>distributed digital currency, or distributed digital crypto-currency. the "distributed" bit is a key issue - anyone can make a centralized digital currency, even with crypto thrown in.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-17T07:00:48.900Z
We need some shorter name for that.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-17T15:13:30.270Z
The "digital" part is probably unnecessary, as there is few uses for non-digital crypto-currencies.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-18T03:08:39.793Z
indeed probably digital can be dropped... that said, what's the goal here? "the shortest name" or "the most accurate name" ?
nanotube
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-18T06:47:38.010Z
Probably the shortest of the names which are accurate, that is cover all the -coins without using a qualifier that doesn't add any information.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-07-07T01:38:53.383Z
Distributed != decentralized.

Mintchip, for instance, is close as it is distributed (multiple issuers), but it is not in the same league as bitcoin because the rules on it are centrally controlled.
Stephen Gornick
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-17T00:11:50.290Z
2011-10-17T00:11:50.290Z
nanotube
<p>Is there some standard term to describe all Bitcoin-like internet currencies, like Solidcoin, Namecoin and so forth? Like "currency" is to dollar, euro, yen, etc?</p>

<terminology><standard>
What is the collective name for Bitcoin, Namecoin, etc?
ThePiachu
# What is the collective name for Bitcoin, Namecoin, etc?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-16)

Is there some standard term to describe all Bitcoin-like internet currencies, like Solidcoin, Namecoin and so forth? Like "currency" is to dollar, euro, yen, etc?

**Tags:** terminology, standard


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-10-17. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

distributed digital currency, or distributed digital crypto-currency. the "distributed" bit is a key issue - anyone can make a centralized digital currency, even with crypto thrown in.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: We need some shorter name for that.  
> **username_0**: The "digital" part is probably unnecessary, as there is few uses for non-digital crypto-currencies.  
> **username_2**: indeed probably digital can be dropped... that said, what's the goal here? "the shortest name" or "the most accurate name" ?  
> **username_0**: Probably the shortest of the names which are accurate, that is cover all the -coins without using a qualifier that doesn't add any information.  
> **username_5**: Distributed != decentralized.  Mintchip, for instance, is close as it is distributed (multiple issuers), but it is not in the same league as bitcoin because the rules on it are centrally controlled.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2011-10-16. Score: 9

It's called crypto-currency, [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-currency).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: As there are no crypto-currencies that are not decentralized, this is probably the shortest of the proper terms we can use so far, but that might change in the future to "distributed crypto-currency", as pointer out by username_2.  
> **username_2**: "As there are no crypto-currencies that are not decentralized" <- this is false. see, e.g., loom.cc.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-07-06. Score: 1

I use "chain currencies". There are precedents for crypto currencies. OT currencies are also crypto-currencies.
Ripple IOUs use cryptoGraphy in the distributed protocol too. The uniqueness is definitely in the block chain.
I often refer to them as just "coins" since most of them are called SomethingCoin.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2011-10-16. Score: -1

I think crypto-currency is the good term.

But personnally I tend to use digital currency because crypto can scare some users.


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