Richard Stallman: Cryptocurrency Is a 'Tool of Oppression'
In a recent interview, Free Software Foundation founder and advocate Richard Stallman expressed his concerns about cryptocurrencies. Stallman argued that cryptocurrencies are a tool of oppression, and that they should not be allowed because they promote greed and power.
Stallman said:
"Cryptocurrencies are a tool of oppression. They promote greed and power. They are a way for the rich to get richer and the powerful to get more powerful. They should not be allowed."
Stallman's comments come as cryptocurrencies continue to see increased popularity. Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency, has seen its value increase by over 1,000% this year.
Richard Stallman Speaks Out Against Cryptocurrency
On Thursday, January 18, 2019, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) co-founder and GNU General Public License (GPL) founder, Richard Stallman, spoke out against cryptocurrency. In an interview with Forbes, Stallman discussed his concerns with cryptocurrency and the potential for scams and fraud.
Stallman expressed his concerns about the lack of regulation of cryptocurrency and the potential for scams and fraud. He said,
"The whole idea of cryptocurrencies is that they're supposed to be secure, but there's no security because there's no central authority. So you can't trust them. And that's a problem because people are already trusting them too much."
Stallman also noted that cryptocurrencies are not true free software because they require users to install a software application on their computers in order to use them. He said,
"The whole point of free software is that you don't have to trust anyone. And you don't have to trust the developers, because they can change the software at any time. But you do have to trust the users, because they can always use it the way it was meant to be used."
Stallman's comments come as the cryptocurrency market continues to face scrutiny from regulators around the world. Earlier this month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a statement warning investors about the risks of investing in cryptocurrencies and tokens.
Richard Stallman: Cryptocurrency Is a 'Tool of the Elite'
In an interview with The Guardian, software freedom activist and founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) Richard Stallman said that cryptocurrencies are a tool of the elite and that they should not be used.
Stallman believes that cryptocurrencies can be abused by those in power and said, "I don't think that they should be used at all. I think they're a tool of the elite, and I think that they should be used by the people."
He went on to say that cryptocurrencies are "a way for the rich to get richer and for the powerful to get more powerful."
Stallman's comments come as cryptocurrencies continue to face scrutiny from regulators and financial institutions around the world. Earlier this year, JP Morgan Chase made a statement saying that it would no longer allow its clients to use cryptocurrencies.
Richard Stallman on Cryptocurrency: 'It's a Tool of Oppression'
On Monday, March 26, GNU General Public License (GPL) co-founder and free software activist Richard Stallman expressed his disdain for cryptocurrencies in an interview with the Guardian.
Stallman, who created the GPL in 1985, denounced the technology as a tool of oppression and said that he would not support any cryptocurrency.
"I don't like it because it's a tool of oppression. It gives people a way to oppress others," Stallman said. "I don't want my name associated with it."
Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009 by an anonymous person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is not regulated by governments and is not subject to the oversight of financial institutions.
Many experts view cryptocurrencies as a Ponzi scheme, citing the fact that they are not backed by any tangible assets. Bitcoin recently lost more than half of its value after trading at more than $19,000 per coin in December 2017.
Richard Stallman on Blockchain: 'It's a Tool of the Elite'
On Thursday, March 29, 2017, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) announced that its board of directors had elected Richard Stallman to serve as the new president. In a recent interview with the Guardian, Stallman discussed his thoughts on blockchain technology and its potential implications for the free software movement.
Stallman is well known for his work on free software, which advocates for the freedom to share and modify software code. He has long been critical of blockchain technology, which he views as a tool of the elite.
"I think it's a tool of the elite," Stallman said. "It allows them to keep track of who owns what, but it doesn't allow people to share what they own."
According to Stallman, blockchain technology could be used to track the ownership of assets, but it does not provide a way for people to share or exchange those assets. He believes that this could have a negative impact on the free software movement, as it would limit the ability of users to share and remix software code.
"The whole point of free software is that you can change it and improve it," Stallman said. "If you can't do that, then the program is not free. If it's not free, then the user is not free."
Richard Stallman on Taler: 'It's a Tool of the Elite'
In an interview with Forbes, free software advocate and GNU founder, Richard Stallman, had some harsh words for the new Taler cryptocurrency.
"It's a tool of the elite," he said. "People who can afford to pay for it will be able to use it to escape the reach of the law, while the rest of us are left behind."
Stallman is not the only one to have a negative opinion of Taler. In a Medium article, cryptocurrency trader and analyst Joseph Young wrote that Taler is "a blatant attempt to copy Ethereum."
The main difference between Ethereum and Taler, according to Young, is that Ethereum is designed to be a platform for building decentralized applications, while Taler is more focused on being a payment system.
Nevertheless, Stallman believes that Taler will ultimately be unsuccessful because it is designed to be different from existing cryptocurrencies rather than built upon them.
Richard Stallman: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and Taler Are 'Tools of Oppression'
In a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone, software freedom activist and creator of the GNU General Public License (GPL) Richard Stallman criticized cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and other forms of digital money as tools of oppression.
Stallman, who has previously spoken out against the use of DRM in digital media, said that he believes that cryptocurrencies and blockchain are "tools of oppression."
"Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a step in the wrong direction. They are tools of oppression, because they give people a way to control the economy by controlling the currency," Stallman said.
Stallman went on to say that he believes that digital currencies are "a way for the wealthy to oppress the poor."
"The wealthy can buy more Bitcoins, and so they can push the price up, so that the poor can't afford to buy anything," Stallman said. "This is a way to oppress the poor."
Stallman's views on digital currencies and blockchain come as little surprise; he has long been an outspoken critic of both technologies.
In January, Stallman released a video in which he argued that blockchain technology is a "privilege" that allows people to "enrich themselves at the expense of everyone else."
Stallman is also a vocal opponent of copyright law, arguing that it is an "oppressive" measure that benefits the wealthy at the expense of the rest of society.