Bill Gates says bitcoin has been a ‘fairly direct’ cause of deaths

Bill Gates is no bitcoin fan.

The world’s second-richest man made his aversion to cryptocurrencies clear during a Tuesday “ask me anything” session on Reddit, saying that among other evils, they have been a “fairly direct” cause of deaths.

Gates said it’s “a good thing” when governments are able to root out “money laundering and tax evasion and terrorist funding” — sleuthing that’s virtually impossible with anonymous digital currencies.

“Right now cryptocurrencies are used for buying fentanyl and other drugs so it is a rare technology that has caused deaths in a fairly direct way,” Gates said.

In addition, Gates said “the speculative wave around ICOs and cryptocurrencies is super risky for those who go along.”

In the wide-ranging Q&A, the Microsoft co-founder also answered a question from a user who wanted to know if the world would ever see another financial crisis like the one in 2008.

Gates said that another crisis is a certainty, though he did not offer an idea as to when it might strike. He did, however, not seem too concerned, saying that the markets got through 2008 “reasonably well.”

“Despite this prediction of bumps ahead I am quite optimistic about how innovation and capitalism will improve the situation for humans everywhere,” he said.

The philanthropist also revealed that he prefers light beers, has no problem with GMO foods, and has no plans to run for president.