Thursday, December 25, 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

Bank of Canada keeps rates on hold at 0.25%

Bank of Canada keeps rates on hold at 0.25%
Since then, the country has clawed back just over four-fifths of those job losses, with growth for the last quarter of 2020 outpacing what the bank expected.

Bank of Canada keeps rates on hold at 0.25%

Health Canada approves COVID-19 vaccine

Health Canada approves COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at Health Canada who oversaw the review process, said it is "a critical milestone in our fight against COVID-19."

Health Canada approves COVID-19 vaccine

B.C. to start vaccination program next week

B.C. to start vaccination program next week
However, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix say the number of new cases and hospitalizations due to serious illness are still high, requiring health orders and restrictions to stay in place.

B.C. to start vaccination program next week

Kovrig, Spavor 'robust' and 'inspiring': Barton

Kovrig, Spavor 'robust' and 'inspiring': Barton
Barton is leading Canada's efforts in China to win the release of Kovrig and Spavor, who were arrested and imprisoned on Dec. 10, 2018, in what is widely seen as retaliation for Canada's arrest of Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou.

Kovrig, Spavor 'robust' and 'inspiring': Barton

Tributes paid to Joseph Arvay in B.C. legislature

Tributes paid to Joseph Arvay in B.C. legislature
Eby told the legislature Arvay revolutionized a section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guaranteeing equality to all Canadians with successful cases in the Supreme Court of Canada on book censorship and the right to assisted death.

Tributes paid to Joseph Arvay in B.C. legislature

Alberta tightens COVID restrictions

Alberta tightens COVID restrictions
He is also ordering the closure of recreation centres, librairies, theatres and personal service providers, such as hair salons, barbers.

Alberta tightens COVID restrictions