According to Jim Rutt, 'crypto' refers to a broad and dynamic suite of technologies that leverage cryptographic principles to ensure secure, decentralized, and transparent transactions. Rooted in the domain of digital currencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, crypto transcends financial applications to encompass blockchain protocols, smart contracts, and distributed ledger technologies. Rutt emphasizes that these innovations collectively dismantle traditional intermediaries by enabling peer-to-peer interactions with immutable records and trustless verification. Yet, he also acknowledges the volatility and regulatory challenges inherent in this burgeoning ecosystem, urging a balanced perspective that weighs both transformative potential and speculative risks.

See also: emergence, evolutionary computing, quantum foundations