Bill Gates says crypto-currencies cause deaths

[Glaseseye]

I think Bill Gates says that be careful in investing in bitcoin because of the many cases of fraud and scams as well as others, which will affect our survival because when we invest and receive income that will be our own decision if we want to invest our money again or not or appropriately or not. Because if we want to earn a lot of money in the long term then to get it only by investing in kriptocurrency.

[Nahl]

long time ago before bitcoin was born people use money to buy drugs or guns for terorism and i think the problem is not from at what use for digital currencies but depend on the person themself not to digital currencies because even though if people does not have bitcoin but if they want to buy drugs i think they will use their money to buy it so in my opinion these statements were wrong

[Kizaki]

I really think that bitcoin or any other crypto-currencies are used in illegal transactions such as: drug trafficking, extortion, and many more. Since people who use block chain is anonymous, syndicates or gangs can easily move their money without even getting noticed. Cryptocurrency has a lot of uses, it gives convenience to everyone even illegal transactions.

[Hell-raiser]

I really think that bitcoin or any other crypto-currencies are used in illegal transactions such as: drug trafficking, extortion, and many more. Since people who use block chain is anonymous, syndicates or gangs can easily move their money without even getting noticed. Cryptocurrency has a lot of uses, it gives convenience to everyone even illegal transactions.

Well, I feel like it remains to be seen yet. Personally, I don't think that "old school" criminals are actively involved in crypto. They are likely using cash dollars and other material things like gold, diamonds, and other expensive items as decades before. So far only new-generation tech-savvy criminals have been caught, dudes like Dread Pirate Roberts (Ross Ulbricht) and folks behind crypto scams like Paul Vernon (still hiding somewhere). Has anyone heard about gangsters of a Pablo Escobar scale being implicated in illegal activities via Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies?

[GoldenLad]

Okay, in as much as he is right in some ways because if you ever visited the dark web, you will know that most of their means of monetary transaction to sell drugs, child porn and shipping weapons is been done through the use of Bitcoin and Monero. But  he shouldn't just judge like that, cause not everyone is into bitcoin because of drugs. Many people have been able to build their home, cater for their children and families because of bitcoin.

[BartS]

Bill Gates has worked hard for many years to become what he is. And when some people suddenly become billionaires in a few months doing nothing, this causes subconscious rejection and negative reaction.

Your post is weird, at first you say that Bill Gates work hard for many years and then you say that he got his fortune doing nothing, lets be very clear Bill Gates is a very hard working man he achieved his fortune creating new products and by being a very smart businessman, however that doesn't mean that we have to agree with everything he says, this comment seems to be based in a raw reaction, one of the reactions that people have just based on feelings because if he stopped to think about what he said he will recognize it was just a bunch of nonsense.

[Hell-raiser]

Bill Gates has worked hard for many years to become what he is. And when some people suddenly become billionaires in a few months doing nothing, this causes subconscious rejection and negative reaction.

Your post is weird, at first you say that Bill Gates work hard for many years and then you say that he got his fortune doing nothing, lets be very clear Bill Gates is a very hard working man he achieved his fortune creating new products and by being a very smart businessman, however that doesn't mean that we have to agree with everything he says, this comment seems to be based in a raw reaction, one of the reactions that people have just based on feelings because if he stopped to think about what he said he will recognize it was just a bunch of nonsense.

Maybe that poster just wanted to say that Bill Gates had been working very hard toward hitting a jackpot one day? Then everything seems to be in order and feels right about him and his success. So from the outside it could indeed look like he got his fortune basically for nothing, while in fact Gates had just been a smart guy who knew how to get things done in a right way, and in a smart way. Isn't this what everyone should be looking for anyway?

[destroyer01]

Bill Gates says bitcoin has caused deaths in a real way because some criminals used it to buy drugs.If they used Windows computers for these transactions,is Microsoft literally selling murder.

[BartS]

Bill Gates says bitcoin has caused deaths in a real way because some criminals used it to buy drugs.If they used Windows computers for these transactions,is Microsoft literally selling murder.

Exactly, if we are going to use that way of thinking then we can conclude that any person that has used Windows to commit a crime has made Microsoft guilty of a crime too, and we know that kind of logic is never going to fly on a court of law, can you imagine what will happen if I judge accepted that kind of logic? Everyone will be guilty of everything at some point a line needs to be drawn about the responsibility that a person has, for example we cannot blame the creator of the automobile for all the deaths that happens in cars right?

[beccer]

I just saw this news, For me its always the choice of an individual in how people will use the technology, many of the technologies can make an easy way to do bad things in life but it is the choice of the people, if they use it in a bad way, they will suffer for their selves.


Crypto-currencies are killing people in a "fairly direct way", Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said.

He was referring to the way digital currencies like Bitcoin are used to buy drugs like synthetic opioid fentanyl.

In an "ask me anything" session on news website Reddit, he said that the anonymity of digital currencies meant they were linked to terrorist funding and money laundering.

Some criticised him, saying he was ill-informed about the technology.

Asked by one user for his opinion on the technology, Mr Gates replied: "The main feature of crypto-currencies is their anonymity. I don't think this is a good thing. The government's ability to find money laundering and tax evasion and terrorist funding is a good thing.

"Right now, crypto-currencies are used for buying fentanyl and other drugs so it is a rare technology that has caused deaths in a fairly direct way. I think the speculative wave around ICOs [initial coin offerings] and crypto-currencies is super risky for those who go long."

heres the link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43239781

what does not kill us? all kill us without us knowing it, if bitcoin is misused then we just set it up better so illegal trading through bitcoin does not happen

[ahiaba.john@yahoo.com]

All different kind of money can be used in different ways by owner. No one or government can restrict what someone use his money for. So also if someone with bitcoin choose to used his it to buy drugs as said then there is nothing wrong with that because many have used dollars to buy same. Bitcoin does not kill if you used it well.

[ceferov]

I don't think he knows enough about crypto-currencies. who can say that crypto causes more death than USD?  All countires are selling or buying guns or armors with USD not crypto.

[batang_bitcoin]

I don't think he knows enough about crypto-currencies.

I'm pretty sure that he has knowledge about crypto and he's not that ignorant with what's happening to the industry he chose to live.

who can say that crypto causes more death than USD? 

him.

All countires are selling or buying guns or armors with USD not crypto.

There are also illegal trades that are happening through crypto because it can easily exchange and convert through fiat with the use of many exchanges online.

[droptableguy2]

It is perfectly true that widespread money laundering has occurred in several countries and for this reason some countries have banned Bitcoin in their country. And anonymity so BTC is seen as a source of funding for terrorists to easily trade and buy weapons. I think identity verification on each BTC account will be clarified in the next few years.

[vergel24official]

He is right crypto-currency is used in wrong way like funding terrorists, drugs, tax evasion and money laundering. Definitely this kill innocent people.

[Hell-raiser]

He is right crypto-currency is used in wrong way like funding terrorists, drugs, tax evasion and money laundering. Definitely this kill innocent people.

The major issue with this stance/approach is that fiat is also used for all these things, and it is overwhelmingly likely that it is used for such activities to a much greater degree. So I don't think it is good to make it look like only crypto is to blame here, which is the effect produced, either intentionally or accidentally. We all know that cryptocurrencies, apart from a rare few like Byteball, are not very useful for large scale criminal operations if you need true, undisputed anonymity.

[Paractor]

Sure it can be used to kill.
But at the same time it can be used to save lives.

Think of it just like you would as a gun.

The holder of the weapon (in this case bitcoin) is in control of what it can be used for.

Good or evil.

You decide.

[yanlap]

He is right crypto-currency is used in wrong way like funding terrorists, drugs, tax evasion and money laundering. Definitely this kill innocent people.

The major issue with this stance/approach is that fiat is also used for all these things, and it is overwhelmingly likely that it is used for such activities to a much greater degree. So I don't think it is good to make it look like only crypto is to blame here, which is the effect produced, either intentionally or accidentally. We all know that cryptocurrencies, apart from a rare few like Byteball, are not very useful for large scale criminal operations if you need true, undisputed anonymity.

Blaming the gun inside of the shooter for taking life of an innocent shows how weak the judge is in head. Bill gates has mentioned only one way in which CRIMINALS are using bitcoin but he forgot to mention about all those people who have actually earned a lot of money with the help of bitcoin. It has saved them from financial crisis. Good people are going to use all inventions in good ways causing zero damage to humanity. Bitcoin is innocent.

[bosede1]

Truly bitcoin can be use to buy all what you have listed but have you give a second chance to think on what bitcoin has been use for positively. It is said that there is nothing that have a positive use without having the opposite. I don't think that this is a cause for alarm but to endeavor to abstain from using the coin in the negative way.

[Dragon5]

Truly, money cause death itself, whether it bitcoin or not. We have to admit, it's something rotten in humans' nature to turn good things into evil. I'm just disappointed Bill Gates didn't think of a new technology in a positive way. He could have suggested something useful