Monday, December 29, 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

Massive drug cooking operation found in B.C.

Massive drug cooking operation found in B.C.
RCMP say in a news release that officers with a search warrant entered a property in Lumby, in B.C.'s north Okanagan, and found a massive synthetic drug production operation.

Massive drug cooking operation found in B.C.

Unions call for end to outsourcing of DND services

Unions call for end to outsourcing of DND services
The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of National Defence Employees say the government is spending far more than it would on those services had it done the work in-house.

Unions call for end to outsourcing of DND services

Procurement minister warns of fallout from probe

Procurement minister warns of fallout from probe
The probe could trigger the release of commercially sensitive information, scaring off manufacturers and drug companies that would otherwise do business with Ottawa and ultimately placing Canadians' health at risk, Anita Anand said Monday.

Procurement minister warns of fallout from probe

No fiscal anchor until after pandemic, PM says

No fiscal anchor until after pandemic, PM says
Speaking to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce today, the prime minister says it would be premature to lock in a spending anchor while the country is still dealing with the pandemic.

No fiscal anchor until after pandemic, PM says

Man dies as police try to stop vehicle in B.C.

Man dies as police try to stop vehicle in B.C.
It crashed into a shallow ditch minutes later, killing the driver and injuring the female passenger.

Man dies as police try to stop vehicle in B.C.

Pregnant woman assaulted in Vancouver

Pregnant woman assaulted in Vancouver
He allegedly responded by throwing rocks at her stomach. The woman, who is eight months pregnant, called police.

Pregnant woman assaulted in Vancouver