Linux Creator Dismisses Cryptocurrencies as “Scams”
Famed Finnish-American software engineer Linus Torvalds, known for inventing the Linux operating system, expressed his skepticism towards cryptocurrencies in a recent forum post. Torvalds criticized the emerging asset class, labeling it a “great vehicle for scams” and likening it to a typical Ponzi scheme that preys on unsuspecting investors.
In a tongue-in-cheek manner, Torvalds even remarked, “Nor do I believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, or the Easter bunny.” Despite his innovative contributions to the tech world, including creating the distributed version control system Git, Torvalds has reservations about the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies.
Interestingly, Torvalds was once rumored to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the elusive creator of Bitcoin. Speculations emerged due to his skill set aligning with the necessary expertise for Bitcoin’s inception, and an incident where his Linux Kernel appeared to attribute a message to Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Torvalds clarified that this was a prank by an individual who manipulated GitHub’s system, highlighting that the rumors had no substance and he did not possess a large Bitcoin fortune.
Additionally, Torvalds expressed skepticism towards the concept of technological singularity, dismissing it as a mere “bedtime story for children.” While acknowledging its appeal as a sci-fi concept, he stated that the notion of continuous exponential growth has limitations and does not align with his understanding of reality. According to Torvalds, “We are very much seeing the limits getting closer.”