--- title: "Cryptographers Furious That “Crypto” Now Means Something Else" description: "Cryptographers are unhappy they are no longer the de facto association of the term \"crypto.\" But is that really a bad thing?" date: "2021-11-19" modified: "2021-11-19" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/cryptographers-furious-crypto-means-something-else" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "cryptocurrencies" - "cryptography" - "the digest" --- # Cryptographers Furious That “Crypto” Now Means Something Else ![Cryptographers are unhappy they are no longer the de facto association of the term "crypto." But is that really a bad thing?]() *\Image: Pixabay / Futurism\* ## Oh That Crypto Not everybody was thrilled when the Staples Center in Los Angeles [was renamed]() the "Crypto.com Arena." And that's especially true for a group of people who have had a deep connection with the term "crypto" for eons — cryptographers. "'Crypto' for decades has been used as shorthand and as a prefix for things related to cryptography," Amie Stepanovich, executive director of Silicon Flatirons Center at the University of Colorado Law School, [told *The Guardian*](). "In fact, in the term cryptocurrency, the prefix crypto refers back to cryptography." ## Olden Days Confusing the two concepts could end in disaster, especially in regards to "legislators and regulators who are not always subject matter experts in these areas, even if they are charged with overseeing them," Stepanovich told the paper. The movement has even spawned cryptographers [wearing T-shirts]() that say "Crypto: it means 'cryptography.'" Have cryptographers already lost the fight, as [*Vice* argued]() in a recent piece? Given the rising momentum of cryptocurrencies, it's starting to look that way. But whether the confusion has any negative consequences beyond bruised egos is unclear. After all, alongside the rise of cryptocurrencies, cryptography is also more important than ever today. From ensuring the safety of personal data to protecting trade secrets and the advent of quantum computing, cryptographers are [more in demand]() than they've ever been. **READ MORE:** [Cryptographers are not happy with how you’re using the word ‘crypto’]() \[*The Guardian*\] **More on crypto:** *[The Staples Center Will Be Renamed the "Crypto.com Arena" Because We Are Condemned to Eternal Damnation]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()