Crypto explained for dummies shouldn't be a complex thing. Crypto is a digital coin with a relevant monetary value that can be used to purchase goods and services online. The technology that cryptocurrencies run on is known as the blockchain and this is much like a general ledger where all transactions are recorded.
One of the main characteristics of crypto is that there is no third-party financial institution overseeing these transactions and provides far more anonymity and hassle-free processing of purchases and sales.