How the Facebook digital currency dream has changed - CNBC Reports

The Facebook-backed Diem Association plans to launch a new stablecoin tied to the U.S. dollar in 2021. Formerly known as Libra, the digital currency project faced years of pushback from regulators, with key figures deeming the project a failure months after the first white paper launched. So how is Diem getting its previous detractors on board? CNBC’s Joumanna Bercetche spoke to Diem’s chief economist Christian Catalini about what has changed, and what the new coin could mean for consumers. 

*NOTE- Diem has since withdrawn its license application in Switzerland shortly after publication of this report

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Libra Cryptocurrency could be in danger, as Mastercard, Visa and Ebay pull out

Facebook’s cryptocurrency Libra took a major hit last Friday, when Mastercard, Visa and Ebay left the Libra Association, who supervises the project. Stripe and Argentina-based Mercado Pago have also left the initiative.

On Monday, the companies who are part of the Libra Association will formalize their participation in the initiative. Companies such as Visa and Mastercard may have second thoughts, as global regulators have raised concerns about the project.

Earlier this month, PayPal also left the Libra association. The departures mean that Libra no longer has the support of any major digital payment company.

Despite these setbacks, Dante Disparte, the head of communications at the Libra Association, has said that "We are focused on moving forward and continuing to build a strong association of some of the world's leading enterprises, social impact organizations and other stakeholders" and that membership of the association may grow and change over time.

Last Wednesday, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said that Libra should not be developed in the European Union and said, "it should not be the role of a private company to try and get a sovereign currency like a sovereign state."

Valdis Dombrovskis, the Executive Vice President-Designate of the European Commission, also said this week that Libra needs to be tightly regulated to preserve monetary stability and to prevent money-laundering operations.

In the U.S., Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said earlier this year the cryptocurrency raises "many serious concerns regarding privacy, money laundering, and consumer protection." Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has also said that the currency could be used to finance terrorist operations, and that it represents a "national security issue."

Libra was unveiled by Facebook in June, and was touted as a digital currency that can be managed from one's phone. The cryptocurrency is particularly directed at the 1.7 billion people on the planet without access to a traditional bank account.