noun | krip·toh proh·tuh·kawl
A crypto protocol is like a secret handshake that lets you join the cool kids club of decentralized finance. It's a set of rules and standards that govern how a particular cryptocurrency or blockchain application works, kind of like the Bro Code but for nerds.
Example
"I spent all weekend reading the whitepaper for this new crypto protocol and I still have no idea what the fuck it does. But the logo is cool and the founder has 'Crypto' in his Twitter name, so it must be legit, right?"
"I met a guy at a party who wouldn't shut up about his favorite crypto protocol. I think it was called 'SmartChain' or 'SuperBlock' or something. I don't know, I stopped listening after the third time he used the word 'synergy.'"
