Saturday, December 20, 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

International air travel falling with new rules

International air travel falling with new rules
The drop in international arrivals in early February is about four times the decline seen between early January and early February in 2019 and 2020.

International air travel falling with new rules

Economy fell 5.4 per cent in 2020: StatCan

Economy fell 5.4 per cent in 2020: StatCan
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product shrank 5.4 per cent in 2020, the steepest annual decline since comparable data was first recorded in 1961.

Economy fell 5.4 per cent in 2020: StatCan

Vancouver home sales up 73% year-over-year: REBGV

Vancouver home sales up 73% year-over-year: REBGV
"The supply of listings for sale isn’t keeping up with the demand we’re seeing,” said Colette Gerber, REBGV's chair, in a release.

Vancouver home sales up 73% year-over-year: REBGV

Churches challenge B.C. COVID-19 health orders

Churches challenge B.C. COVID-19 health orders
Henry and the province have said they are confident the health orders are in accordance with the law, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Churches challenge B.C. COVID-19 health orders

1478 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1478 COVID19 cases over 3 days
With the additional supply from the newly approved AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India viral vector vaccine, combined with setting the second dose interval at 16 weeks, everyone moves up the line, meaning more people will be vaccinated more quickly.

1478 COVID19 cases over 3 days

AstraZeneca's vaccine not for seniors: NACI

AstraZeneca's vaccine not for seniors: NACI
The AstraZeneca vaccine was authorized for use Friday on all adults, including seniors, but the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is concerned there is limited data on how well the vaccine will work in older populations.

AstraZeneca's vaccine not for seniors: NACI