Thai Central Bank Lenient on Libra, Wants to Check Pros and Cons

Friday, 19/07/2019 | 07:51 GMT by Arnab Shome
  • The regulator already formed a working group to study the cryptocurrency.
Thai Central Bank Lenient on Libra, Wants to Check Pros and Cons
Libra

The announcement of Facebook’s cryptocurrency project ignited concerns among regulators and lawmakers in both east and western countries. Thailand’s central bank, however, is inclining towards the favor of the upcoming digital currency.

Veerathai Santiprabhob, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, recently said that regulators should consider both pros and cons of Libra , according to a Bangkok Post report.

Mentioning the benefits of the upcoming digital currency, he said that it would open more opportunities to Thai nationals in financial access. However, before making any decision, he wants to evaluate the operational and security risks of the coin.

The central bank will monitor the digital coin’s verification and authentication criteria, along with its compliance towards the existing money laundering laws.

Finance Magnates earlier reported that the Thai central bank is already in talks with the social media company about Libra and formed a task force of experts to study the proposed cryptocurrency.

Mentioning the concerns of Libra to replace fiats, Santiprabhob said: “Replacing a national currency with a digital one is not easy, especially where people are confident in the local currency, the financial system, and foreign Exchange stability.”

Hostile territories

Though Thailand is getting softer towards Facebook’s crypto initiative, the scenario is different for other major Asian countries. Earlier, the California-headquartered company confirmed that it is not going to launch any of its crypto-based products in India, which is also the largest market for its social media platforms, due to the hostility of regulators.

Meanwhile, in a recent report, a G7 working group warned about Libra’s potential to disrupt the global financial stability. However, it also acknowledged that the project could bring financial inclusion to the unbanked population.

The social media company also recently faced two consecutive hearings in the United States by the Senate and the House over concerns of data privacy of Libra users.

The announcement of Facebook’s cryptocurrency project ignited concerns among regulators and lawmakers in both east and western countries. Thailand’s central bank, however, is inclining towards the favor of the upcoming digital currency.

Veerathai Santiprabhob, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, recently said that regulators should consider both pros and cons of Libra , according to a Bangkok Post report.

Mentioning the benefits of the upcoming digital currency, he said that it would open more opportunities to Thai nationals in financial access. However, before making any decision, he wants to evaluate the operational and security risks of the coin.

The central bank will monitor the digital coin’s verification and authentication criteria, along with its compliance towards the existing money laundering laws.

Finance Magnates earlier reported that the Thai central bank is already in talks with the social media company about Libra and formed a task force of experts to study the proposed cryptocurrency.

Mentioning the concerns of Libra to replace fiats, Santiprabhob said: “Replacing a national currency with a digital one is not easy, especially where people are confident in the local currency, the financial system, and foreign Exchange stability.”

Hostile territories

Though Thailand is getting softer towards Facebook’s crypto initiative, the scenario is different for other major Asian countries. Earlier, the California-headquartered company confirmed that it is not going to launch any of its crypto-based products in India, which is also the largest market for its social media platforms, due to the hostility of regulators.

Meanwhile, in a recent report, a G7 working group warned about Libra’s potential to disrupt the global financial stability. However, it also acknowledged that the project could bring financial inclusion to the unbanked population.

The social media company also recently faced two consecutive hearings in the United States by the Senate and the House over concerns of data privacy of Libra users.

About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome
  • 7315 Articles
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About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from the National Institute of Technology, Agartala. He entered the retail trading industry about a decade ago, covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates, and later expanded his coverage to include forex and CFDs as well. His work at Finance Magnates includes C-level interviews, data-driven analysis, opinion pieces, and scoops of industry exclusives. He also contributes to Finance Magnates’ quarterly industry report. Area of coverage: 1. CFD broker-related news 2. Industry-related Regulatory updates and developments 3. New retail trading trends 4. Prop trading industry updates 5. Executive interviews Education: Bachelor of Technology - National Institute of Technology, Agartala (India)
  • 7315 Articles
  • 133 Followers

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