Yesterday Bill Gates expressed his view on bitcoin, talking with Reddit’s users within the session "Ask Me Anything."

His current opinion differs from the interview in 2014, when he said that the advantage of cryptocurrency is that “you don't have to be physically in the same place and, of course, for large transactions, currency can get pretty inconvenient.”

Bill Gates considers harmful the anonymity of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. He notes that cryptocurrencies are often used for buying drugs, so "it is a rare technology that has caused deaths in a fairly simple way."

When the Reddit’s user noted that drugs can be bought for cash, Gates parried that using cash "you have to be physically present to transfer it, which makes things like kidnapping payments more difficult."

Gates also warns that the wave of speculation with cryptocurrencies is "super risky for those who go long."

Along with Bill Gates there are other well-known and rich persons who criticize bitcoin.

Bill’s good friend Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said:"In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending."

Jack Bogle, American investor, business magnate, and philanthropist, warned: "Avoid bitcoin like the plague. Did I make myself clear?"

Source:

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/19/bill-gates-in-2014-bitcoin-is-better-than-currency.html