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

B.C. to extend rent freeze through 2021

B.C. to extend rent freeze through 2021
The changes, if passed, will come into effect on July 1 and are in addition to earlier protections introduced in 2018.

B.C. to extend rent freeze through 2021

MPs to examine safety of travellers in quarantine

MPs to examine safety of travellers in quarantine
Liberal MP John McKay, the committee chairman, said Monday the hearing could take place this week but cautioned it would be a challenge to schedule witnesses in time.

MPs to examine safety of travellers in quarantine

How effective is the AstraZeneca vaccine?

How effective is the AstraZeneca vaccine?
Health Canada said Friday that real-world data from countries already using the product suggest it is safe and effective among older age groups.

How effective is the AstraZeneca vaccine?

UPDATE: Panorama Ridge Secondary in Surrey on lockdown after an assault with a weapon

UPDATE: Panorama Ridge Secondary in Surrey on lockdown after an assault with a weapon
It is not known what type of weapon was involved in the attack. The person that was injured was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.

UPDATE: Panorama Ridge Secondary in Surrey on lockdown after an assault with a weapon

Meng's lawyer says case against her 'unreliable'

Meng's lawyer says case against her 'unreliable'
Meng was arrested at Vancouver's airport in 2018 on a request by U.S. officials who allege she misrepresented the relationship between Huawei and Skycom, causing HSBC to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Meng's lawyer says case against her 'unreliable'

Former hotel in Vancouver is slated for housing

Former hotel in Vancouver is slated for housing
The City of Vancouver, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and the federal government say the former Days Inn on Kingsway will be ready to house people in November.

Former hotel in Vancouver is slated for housing