A decade ago, in a forgotten but notable interview, Bill Gates was quoted praising Bitcoin, calling it “better than money” when BTC was trading at just $400.

The Microsoft co-founder has highlighted BTC’s ability to facilitate cheap and efficient transactions without requiring parties to be in the same location. Gates said that while traditional money could become unsuitable for large transactions, Bitcoin’s underlying technology allows for smoother and more cost-effective transfers.

During the interview, Bill Gates said that he was excited about Bitcoin technology because of its potential to revolutionize the way people transact globally. He noted that the customers he spoke to were not looking for anonymity, but rather an efficient and transparent means of transferring value. He also discussed the possibility of developing similar technologies that could offer additional assurances to make people more comfortable with digital currencies, and specifically emphasized that Bitcoin is not linked to illegal activities such as terrorism or money laundering.

However, in 2018, Gates expressed a much more critical view of Bitcoin and stated that he would short BTC if he could.

*This is not investment advice.