Wednesday, December 24, 2025
ADVT 
National

Feds uneasy with Facebook cryptocurrency: Document

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Mar, 2021 05:58 PM
  • Feds uneasy with Facebook cryptocurrency: Document

Internal Finance Department documents show officials have deep concerns about the effect of Facebook's planned digital currency on Canada's financial stability.

Officials wrote in the briefing note last summer that they believed the company had yet to address multiple concerns and risks its digital currency posed to the financial system.

The July briefing note, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, also says the government was working on options to ease the risks.

Officials appeared less concerned about rivals like Bitcoin, which the briefing note says has not played a large role in everyday transactions in Canada for various reasons.

Unlike Bitcoin, Facebook's offering would be a "stablecoin" whose value would be less volatile, and could be easily used by hundreds of millions of the social media giant's users upon release.

The ease of use and stability of value are among the reasons governments and central banks like the Bank of Canada have taken a keen interest in the currency.

MORE National ARTICLES

Millions of low income seniors can now get a free smartphone from TELUS

Millions of low income seniors can now get a free smartphone from TELUS
Available now, Mobility for Good for Seniors includes a free refurbished smartphone, unlimited nationwide talk and text, and 3GB of data for only $25 per month.

Millions of low income seniors can now get a free smartphone from TELUS

Abbotsford Police search for suspect in overnight Subway robbery

Abbotsford Police search for suspect in overnight Subway robbery
When the cashier started to open the cash register, the suspect pepper-sprayed her. She was able to flee from the restaurant and call the police.

Abbotsford Police search for suspect in overnight Subway robbery

Vancouver Police asking for witnesses to come forward in a Halloween stabbing

Vancouver Police asking for witnesses to come forward in a Halloween stabbing
He was struck in the head by a white male in his 20s, who was wearing a Ghostbusters Halloween costume. A second altercation between the groups occurred around 11:45 p.m. near the public washrooms at the soccer field.

Vancouver Police asking for witnesses to come forward in a Halloween stabbing

Military seeing more hateful conduct: Minister

Military seeing more hateful conduct: Minister
Sajjan has previously spoken about his experiences with racism while serving as a reservist, but he believes the number of hate-motivated incidents have increased since he wore a uniform.

Military seeing more hateful conduct: Minister

RCMP start criminal probe in B.C. train derailment

RCMP start criminal probe in B.C. train derailment
Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says the probe comes after a preliminary review of the incident near Field, B.C., that killed three rail company employees

RCMP start criminal probe in B.C. train derailment

B.C. budget deficit forecast to hit $13.6 billion

B.C. budget deficit forecast to hit $13.6 billion
In February, the government projected a budget surplus of $227 million for 2020-21 but that was before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

B.C. budget deficit forecast to hit $13.6 billion