Facebook Targets Remittances, World's Unbanked With Libra
- The social media giant said it wants to reach people who lack access to financial services with its new cryptocurrency
Social media giant Facebook released more details of its prospective cryptocurrency this Tuesday, saying that it will be launching a wallet for its Libra Libra Libra is a yet-to-be-released cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook, Inc., that will aim to serve as a global payment system and a stable financial infrastructure that people across the world can use. The projected release date of the libra cryptocurrency is currently slated for 2020, while the project is currently being managed by the Libra Association.Headquartered from Geneva, Switzerland, the Libra Association main purpose is founded on three pillars.This includes the provision of a framework of governance oversight for the Libra network and Libra reserve, overseeing active operations and longevity of the Libra payment system, and facilitating the flow of services of the Libra Blockchain.The Libra Association is overseen by the Libra Association Council.This is comprised of organizations from the technology, telecommunication, payment, blockchain, venture capital, and nonprofit sectors.The creators of the coin are Morgan Beller, who initially started working on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology at Facebook in 2017, David Marcus, and Kevin Weil. Before the announcement of the Libra cryptocurrency on June 18th, 2019, Facebook had been considering coining the digital currency GlobalCoin or Facebook Coin.Will Libra Ever Launch? Facebook has expressed multiple times that they will not launch the Libra cryptocurrency until all regulatory matters have been met.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has since assured lawmakers that Libra would not launch without first acquiring approval from United States regulators. Past participants of the Libra Association who left in October of 2019 include PayPal, eBay, Book Holdings, Mercado Pago, Visa, Stripe, and MasterCard. It should be noted that the source code for Libra is written in Rust that is open-source through the Apache License. What’s unique about Libra is that it will not depend upon cryptocurrency mining while only members of the Libra Association will be in a position to validate and process transactions. Facebook plans to launch a digital wallet known as Calibra in 2020, which will serve as an avenue for acquiring Libra along with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Libra is a yet-to-be-released cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook, Inc., that will aim to serve as a global payment system and a stable financial infrastructure that people across the world can use. The projected release date of the libra cryptocurrency is currently slated for 2020, while the project is currently being managed by the Libra Association.Headquartered from Geneva, Switzerland, the Libra Association main purpose is founded on three pillars.This includes the provision of a framework of governance oversight for the Libra network and Libra reserve, overseeing active operations and longevity of the Libra payment system, and facilitating the flow of services of the Libra Blockchain.The Libra Association is overseen by the Libra Association Council.This is comprised of organizations from the technology, telecommunication, payment, blockchain, venture capital, and nonprofit sectors.The creators of the coin are Morgan Beller, who initially started working on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology at Facebook in 2017, David Marcus, and Kevin Weil. Before the announcement of the Libra cryptocurrency on June 18th, 2019, Facebook had been considering coining the digital currency GlobalCoin or Facebook Coin.Will Libra Ever Launch? Facebook has expressed multiple times that they will not launch the Libra cryptocurrency until all regulatory matters have been met.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has since assured lawmakers that Libra would not launch without first acquiring approval from United States regulators. Past participants of the Libra Association who left in October of 2019 include PayPal, eBay, Book Holdings, Mercado Pago, Visa, Stripe, and MasterCard. It should be noted that the source code for Libra is written in Rust that is open-source through the Apache License. What’s unique about Libra is that it will not depend upon cryptocurrency mining while only members of the Libra Association will be in a position to validate and process transactions. Facebook plans to launch a digital wallet known as Calibra in 2020, which will serve as an avenue for acquiring Libra along with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Read this Term cryptocurrency.
Called Calibra, the wallet will be available to users as a stand-alone mobile application, as well as being integrated into Facebook's Messenger app and WhatsApp.
Facebook said that it expects the application to be ready for use in the first half of 2020.
Emerging markets in its sights
A quick glance over the social media company's statement and Libra's new website is indicative of what the target market of this new cryptocurrency will be.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zw-jpVFKMY[/embed]
"For many people around the world, even basic financial services are still out of reach," the company said in a statement. "The cost of that exclusion is high — approximately 70% of small businesses in developing countries lack access to credit and $25 billion is lost by migrants every year through remittance fees.
"This is the challenge we’re hoping to address with Calibra, a new digital wallet that you’ll be able to use to save, send and spend Libra."
On the Libra website, Facebook also released a new video promoting the nascent cryptocurrency. That advert very clearly depicts countries in emerging markets, places that remittance Payments Payments One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. Read this Term are sent to most and which contain much of the world's unbanked population.
Facebook is the new WeChat
Aside from remittances and the unbanked, Facebook appears to be trying imitate its Chinese competitor WeChat - a messaging application that allows its billion-plus users to make payments.
"Calibra will let you send Libra to almost anyone with a smartphone, as easily and instantly as you might send a text message and at low to no cost," said the tech firm in its statement.
"And, in time, we hope to offer additional services for people and businesses, like paying bills with the push of a button, buying a cup of coffee with the scan of a code or riding your local public transit without needing to carry cash or a metro pass."
Unlike many of its competitors in the market, Facebook is well positioned to tap into demands for cryptocurrency and introduce people to the world of digital assets.
Indeed, with 2.38 billion users - or 30 percent of the world's population - the company will arguably the world's largest central bank once Libra launches.
It is unclear as to what regulatory measures the company has taken to support Libra, though an executive at the company has said they want to work with authorities on developing laws to govern digital assets.
“It gives us a basis to go and have productive conversations with regulators around the world,” said Kevin Weil, VP of product at Facebook. “We’re eager to do that.”
Social media giant Facebook released more details of its prospective cryptocurrency this Tuesday, saying that it will be launching a wallet for its Libra Libra Libra is a yet-to-be-released cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook, Inc., that will aim to serve as a global payment system and a stable financial infrastructure that people across the world can use. The projected release date of the libra cryptocurrency is currently slated for 2020, while the project is currently being managed by the Libra Association.Headquartered from Geneva, Switzerland, the Libra Association main purpose is founded on three pillars.This includes the provision of a framework of governance oversight for the Libra network and Libra reserve, overseeing active operations and longevity of the Libra payment system, and facilitating the flow of services of the Libra Blockchain.The Libra Association is overseen by the Libra Association Council.This is comprised of organizations from the technology, telecommunication, payment, blockchain, venture capital, and nonprofit sectors.The creators of the coin are Morgan Beller, who initially started working on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology at Facebook in 2017, David Marcus, and Kevin Weil. Before the announcement of the Libra cryptocurrency on June 18th, 2019, Facebook had been considering coining the digital currency GlobalCoin or Facebook Coin.Will Libra Ever Launch? Facebook has expressed multiple times that they will not launch the Libra cryptocurrency until all regulatory matters have been met.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has since assured lawmakers that Libra would not launch without first acquiring approval from United States regulators. Past participants of the Libra Association who left in October of 2019 include PayPal, eBay, Book Holdings, Mercado Pago, Visa, Stripe, and MasterCard. It should be noted that the source code for Libra is written in Rust that is open-source through the Apache License. What’s unique about Libra is that it will not depend upon cryptocurrency mining while only members of the Libra Association will be in a position to validate and process transactions. Facebook plans to launch a digital wallet known as Calibra in 2020, which will serve as an avenue for acquiring Libra along with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Libra is a yet-to-be-released cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook, Inc., that will aim to serve as a global payment system and a stable financial infrastructure that people across the world can use. The projected release date of the libra cryptocurrency is currently slated for 2020, while the project is currently being managed by the Libra Association.Headquartered from Geneva, Switzerland, the Libra Association main purpose is founded on three pillars.This includes the provision of a framework of governance oversight for the Libra network and Libra reserve, overseeing active operations and longevity of the Libra payment system, and facilitating the flow of services of the Libra Blockchain.The Libra Association is overseen by the Libra Association Council.This is comprised of organizations from the technology, telecommunication, payment, blockchain, venture capital, and nonprofit sectors.The creators of the coin are Morgan Beller, who initially started working on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology at Facebook in 2017, David Marcus, and Kevin Weil. Before the announcement of the Libra cryptocurrency on June 18th, 2019, Facebook had been considering coining the digital currency GlobalCoin or Facebook Coin.Will Libra Ever Launch? Facebook has expressed multiple times that they will not launch the Libra cryptocurrency until all regulatory matters have been met.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has since assured lawmakers that Libra would not launch without first acquiring approval from United States regulators. Past participants of the Libra Association who left in October of 2019 include PayPal, eBay, Book Holdings, Mercado Pago, Visa, Stripe, and MasterCard. It should be noted that the source code for Libra is written in Rust that is open-source through the Apache License. What’s unique about Libra is that it will not depend upon cryptocurrency mining while only members of the Libra Association will be in a position to validate and process transactions. Facebook plans to launch a digital wallet known as Calibra in 2020, which will serve as an avenue for acquiring Libra along with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Read this Term cryptocurrency.
Called Calibra, the wallet will be available to users as a stand-alone mobile application, as well as being integrated into Facebook's Messenger app and WhatsApp.
Facebook said that it expects the application to be ready for use in the first half of 2020.
Emerging markets in its sights
A quick glance over the social media company's statement and Libra's new website is indicative of what the target market of this new cryptocurrency will be.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zw-jpVFKMY[/embed]
"For many people around the world, even basic financial services are still out of reach," the company said in a statement. "The cost of that exclusion is high — approximately 70% of small businesses in developing countries lack access to credit and $25 billion is lost by migrants every year through remittance fees.
"This is the challenge we’re hoping to address with Calibra, a new digital wallet that you’ll be able to use to save, send and spend Libra."
On the Libra website, Facebook also released a new video promoting the nascent cryptocurrency. That advert very clearly depicts countries in emerging markets, places that remittance Payments Payments One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonly the basis of exchange involves fiat currency or legal tender, be it in the form of cash, credit or bank transfers, debit, or checks. While typically associated with cash transfers, payments can also be made in anything of perceived value, be it stock or bartering – though this is far more limited today than it has been in the past.The Largest Players in the Payments IndustryFor most individuals, the payments industry is dominated currently by card companies such as Visa or Mastercard, which facilitate the use of credit or debit expenditures. More recently, this industry has seen the rise of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments services, which have gained tremendous traction in Europe, the United States, and Asia, among other continents.One of the biggest parameters for payments is timing, which looms as a crucial element for execution. By this metric, consumer demand incentivizes technology that prioritizes the fastest payment execution.This can help explain the preference for debit and credit payments overtaking check or money orders, which in previous decades were much more commonly utilized. A multi-billion-dollar industry, the payments space has seen some of the most innovation and advances in recent years as companies look to push contactless technology with faster execution times. Read this Term are sent to most and which contain much of the world's unbanked population.
Facebook is the new WeChat
Aside from remittances and the unbanked, Facebook appears to be trying imitate its Chinese competitor WeChat - a messaging application that allows its billion-plus users to make payments.
"Calibra will let you send Libra to almost anyone with a smartphone, as easily and instantly as you might send a text message and at low to no cost," said the tech firm in its statement.
"And, in time, we hope to offer additional services for people and businesses, like paying bills with the push of a button, buying a cup of coffee with the scan of a code or riding your local public transit without needing to carry cash or a metro pass."
Unlike many of its competitors in the market, Facebook is well positioned to tap into demands for cryptocurrency and introduce people to the world of digital assets.
Indeed, with 2.38 billion users - or 30 percent of the world's population - the company will arguably the world's largest central bank once Libra launches.
It is unclear as to what regulatory measures the company has taken to support Libra, though an executive at the company has said they want to work with authorities on developing laws to govern digital assets.
“It gives us a basis to go and have productive conversations with regulators around the world,” said Kevin Weil, VP of product at Facebook. “We’re eager to do that.”