LIBRA
Libra is a cryptocurrency developed by Facebook. Libra’s mission is “a simple global currency and financial infrastructure that empowers millions of people”. Libra uses a basket of stable currencies and assets as a reserve. Libra doesn’t challenge the power of money issuance typically owned by the central government, but Libra has the potential to replace money flow services of the current financial system, further reduce the role of banks and other financial institutions in financial services.
Chinese CBDC's Backend Developments are Complete, Revealed During 2020 FinTech Forum
The world’s attention is on China who has recorded a great advancement in the development of its central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Chinese CBDC project, also known as digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) entered its testing phase back in April with a test run billed for four major cities.
Understanding the Profound Impact of Stablecoins on Traditional Finance
Stablecoin is a compromise on absolute money issuance power and the adoption of disruptive blockchain technology. Stablecoin will have a profound impact on the infrastructure of future financial systems.
China Leads Pan-Asian Digital Currency Project to Compete with Facebook's Libra
Led by China, four Asian countries are in the early stages of developing a joint digital currency. The currency will help keep the Dollar and Libra in check
Libra Appoints New Chief Compliance Officer, Third C-Suite Executive Appointed with a Strong Compliance Track Record
The Libra Association appointed Sterling Daines as its new Chief Compliance Officer, who is currently the Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Credit Suisse. He is expected to leave his position at Credit Suisse and join the Libra Association later this year. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was the Managing Director and Deputy Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Goldman Sachs and has worked as a consultant to the US Department of Justice and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Facebook Calibra Digital Wallet Gets a New Name – Novi
Facebook has renamed its digital wallet, Calibra, as Novi. Calibra was the digital wallet that the social media giant has been building to access Libra digital currencies. In a blog post, the company explained that the new name was inspired by the Latin words “novus” and “via,” meaning “new” and “way.” The digital wallet company, a subsidiary under Facebook will now be named Novi Financial. As previously reported by Blockchain.News, Libra has abandoned its original plan of a widely accessible permissionless digital currency aimed to solve financial inclusion issues, due to ongoing regulatory backlash.
Singapore State Investor Temasek Joins Libra Association, Facebook’s Global Digital Currency Project
Singapore’s state investor, Temasek Holdings has officially been named a member of the Facebook-backed digital currency project Libra. Temasek as a portfolio value of 313 billion Singapore dollars (roughly $219 billion), making it one of the more prominent backers of Libra. The Libra Association, an independent group based in Switzerland has also welcomed crypto investor Paradigm and Slow Ventures, a private equity firm.
HSBC Chief Legal Officer Stuart Levey Gets Appointed as Libra’s New CEO, Expert in Dealing with Regulatory Backlash
The Libra Association appointed its first CEO, Stuart Levey, the Chief Legal Officer at HSBC Holdings. Levey will be overseeing the Libra digital currency and payments system and holds a strong compliance track record and is expected to join Libra in the coming months. However, HSBC has not shown the same upright compliance record. Levey is also expected to “combine technology innovation with robust compliance and regulatory framework.” The Facebook-led project has invited scrutiny from global regulators, with concerns over its threat to national sovereignty with its potential launch. Many of Libra’s original members, including Vodafone, PayPal, and Visa have also chosen to leave the association.
Facebook’s Libra Could Do to the Payment Sector What Elon Musk's SpaceX Did to the Space Industry, Binance Research Reveals
Libra has released its updated whitepaper, marking several significant changes towards providing individual stablecoins for major fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, and Libra Coin.
Libra Adds New Nonprofit Member Heifer International to Tackle World Hunger and Poverty After Enduring Months of Regulatory Scrutiny
The Libra Association has welcomed a new member, Heifer International, a nonprofit organization aimed to tackle world hunger and poverty. The addition of Heifer International brings the tally of members in the Libra Association to twenty-three.
Facebook’s Libra Move to Apply for Swiss Regulator FINMA License: A Failed Permissionless Network?
Libra is moving away from its original plan of permissionless digital currency, widely accessible for the public, due to ongoing unprecedented hardship. Libra will be moving towards a coin that would be subject to foreign exchange controls and regulations.
China’s Central Bank Digital Currency DCEP to be Operational for Local Government Employees Starting in May
Local government employees in the city of Suzhou will be receiving China’s central bank digital currency, digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) in May, according to a local news outlet. China has been charging full speed with its digital currency development plans shortly after Facebook revealed its Libra stablecoin project.
World Bank Pushes to Raise the Bar for FinTech and DLT for Cross-Border Interoperability and Financial Inclusion
The World Bank Group has recently published a study, issued by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on “Payment aspects of financial inclusion in the FinTech era,” highlighting the concepts derived using blockchain, including stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Libra Faces Competition as Celo Foundation Hands Out First Grants Expanding the Use of its Platform
Libra has been facing some competition as the Celo Foundation has awarded its first grants of $700,000 in total to 13 projects that expand the use of its platform.
Mark Zuckerberg's Sister Randi Zuckerberg Shows Her Support For Bitcoin & Ripple
Randi Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg's sister has lately been showing her immense support and interest in the cryptocurrency market, particularly for Bitcoin and Ripple XRP. She runs a satellite radio show SiriusXM which hosted three cryptocurrency experts who were very bullish on Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market as a whole.
Facebook Moving Further Away From Libra, But Considering its Own Digital Token System
Facebook is now considering developing a system of digital tokens, pegged to different government-issued currencies including the US dollar and the euro. The new plan will still include Libra, although Libra Association, separately, will continue its work on the stablecoin pegged to a basket of global currencies.