Nah, I think they believe it. Actually I wasn't aware that Gates thought this way, but I certainly knew about Buffett--and they're both entitled to their opinion. It makes sense that WB doesn't think bitcoin is a good investment, as he's a stock market guy and doesn't see what problems bitcoin solves. You'd think Gates might be a little more sympathetic, being a computer guy, but whatever.
I don't believe there's any sort of conspiracy here. I think they got asked by the media what their opinions are on crypto, and they stated what they believe. I have great respect for both men, and their opinions don't diminish that in the least.
Well,Bill Gates has said that he likes and dislikes bitcoin,in a rather indirect way. Someone even
gifted him a bitcoin on his birthday apparently.
The thing is that both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett think that bitcoin doesn't belong to the asset class,which explains why they are against bitcoin/crypto. Some people believe in that,some don't. Everyone is speculative in their own way,so opinions of others changes their way of thinking,which again influences things in the right/wrong direction.