Re “Cyberattack on Scripps Health has scary, broad implications” (May 7): Hospitals, pipeline operators, oil companies, even city governments have all been hit by ransomware attacks. These attacks are happening more and more frequently and they all have one thing in common: cryptocurrency.

The perpetrators of these attacks demand payment in Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency, because these payments are untraceable and unstoppable.

It’s long past time to put an end to these non-governmental currencies. Cryptocurrencies appear to have been created specifically to facilitate illegal activities. They serve no legitimate purpose. Their primary uses are ransomware, extortion and funding terrorists, the drug trade and child pornography.

The only way to end ransomware is to end cryptocurrencies.