Former CIA agent Edward Snowden said he sees the value of cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange rather than an investment tool.
“I use bitcoin to use it. In 2013, I used it as a pseudonymous payment for servers. Generally, I don’t encourage people to invest their money in cryptocurrencies as a technology, and that’s what alienates me from a lot of people in the community,” he said.
Snowden also defended the crypto industry in the face of criticism from a group of tech experts who sent a letter to the U.S. Congress in June. In the letter, the experts called for a ban on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
“The letter is an argument for the status quo. There are so many ways to solve all their problems. Everyone who signed this letter can understand this industry. They certainly should,” he added.
Among the authors of the letter, however, Snowden noted cryptographer Bruce Schneier.
He called the other signers of the document “inveterate public trolls”.
Earlier, Snowden admitted that he participated in the launch of the confidential cryptocurrency Zcash.