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As the cryptocurrency world continues to levitate, BTC surges over $58000 a coin to a valuation of over $1 trillion. We pause to consider 'Outlier' viewpoints other than the Bitcoin Evangelicals.

The naysayers are already well-known, including Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger and any number of Central Bank heads, including Janet Yellen and Christine Lagarde.

Bill Gates's co-founder of Microsoft in an interview with CNBC over two years ago, maintained a neutral stance on the decentralized digital currency that was developed in 2009. Earlier this month, it would seem his view has changed to one of negativity remarking that he saw no societal purpose for the instruments and that it was an 'Innovation the world can do without.' But, he continued, he was all for bringing transaction costs down by utilizing digital technology.

Sounds like a mixed message.

Jim Charnos, the founder of the very successful hedge fund Kynikos Associates, predicted the spectacular fall of Enron at the turn of the century and more recently, Wirecard in Germany last year. He spoke out a couple of years ago that cryptocurrency is masquerading as a technological breakthrough in monetary policy but is, in fact, simply a security speculation game.

He hasn't commented recently on BTC other than to say generally 'Markets are in a golden age of fraud.'

Nouriel Roubini, an acclaimed professor of economics, sometimes referred to as Dr. Doom, has been scathing about crypto since its genesis. He argues that the value is zero and would be negative if a proper carbon tax were applied to the massive consumption of polluting energy [electricity] that is required to mine. He predicts that the current bubble will 'eventually' end in another bust.

Jim Rogers, one of the early proteges of George Soros, while admitting he wished he had bought BTC long ago is more sanguine, merely saying the cryptocurrency space with so many players is looking like a bubble. In any case, he feels Governments will eventually move to strictly regulate or disqualify it, adding ominously, they have the 'force of arms' to implement any directive.

Meantime he prefers to stay with commodities

Mark Mobius, once legendary head of Templeton Asset Management at the outset of BTC and crypto, commented it was a 'real fraud' but now opines judiciously, 'there's definitely a desire among people around the world to be able to transfer money easily and confidentially.'

He now feels the 'space' has life and longevity. However, he would not commit funds for himself while mentioning in caution the collapse of Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox in early 2014 that left many millions out of pocket, literally.

Marc Faber, the mildly eccentric entertaining editor of the Gloom Boom and Doom report, stated that he bought it because he liked the technical chart as BTC had collapsed from over $20000 in 2017 to around $3000 when he finally took a small position. He added that he thought it was possible BTC could become a standard for money transfers globally.

He cautioned his BTC investment at the time two years ago should not be interpreted as a fully-fledged 'endorsement' but rather a speculative investment on what may be possible.

Niall Ferguson, the well-regarded economic historian and author of the acclaimed 'Ascent of Money' and once a long-time skeptic, has done a full mea culpa saying he was very wrong describing BTC as a 'complete delusion' but now speaks of 'digital gold.' He feels there is a need and demand for digital currencies backed by 'Blockchain technologies.'