Facebook: We won't offer Libra currency without approval

The head of Facebook’s cryptocurrency project, Calibra, plans to tell lawmakers the company is committed to working with policymakers and regulators to launch its Libra cryptocurrency.

“We know we need to take the time to get this right. And I want to be clear: Facebook (FB) will not offer the Libra digital currency until we have fully addressed regulatory concerns and received appropriate approvals,” said Marcus.

Marcus will testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday morning and the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters on Monday that Facebook still has a long way to go before regulators are comfortable.

“They’ve got a lot of work to do to convince us,” said Mnuchin.

In his prepared remarks for the Senate hearing, Marcus said the Libra Association expects to be licensed, regulated and subject to supervisory oversight. He says because the Association is headquartered in Geneva, it will be supervised by the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

“We have had preliminary discussions with FINMA and expect to engage with them on an appropriate regulatory framework for the Libra Association. The Association also intends to register with FinCEN as a money services business,” Marcus said.

This comes after lawmakers in both parties have raised concerns about the project. When Fed Chair Jerome Powell went before Congress in two separate hearings last week, much of the questioning centered around Libra.

A small toy figure stands on representations of virtual currency in front of the Libra logo in this illustration picture, June 21, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
A small toy figure stands on representations of virtual currency in front of the Libra logo in this illustration picture, June 21, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Powell told lawmakers Facebook needed to address “serious concerns” before the initiative could move forward.

Mnuchin called this a national security issue, and told reporters Treasury has “very serious concerns” Libra or cryptocurrencies could be used by money launderers or terrorist financiers.

Mnuchin said regulators have met with Facebook representatives to express their concerns, and he has talked with Powell “extensively” about the issue.

The Treasury Secretary told reporters he also plans to discuss cryptocurrency when the G7 Finance ministers meet later this week.

“Given the international nature of cryptocurrencies, we are going to great lengths to ensure that effective regulation does not stop here at the U.S. border,” said Mnuchin.

‘Most careful pre-launch oversight’

In his testimony, Marcus referenced Powell’s comments about Libra during public hearings last week.

“Chairman Powell has made clear that the process for reviewing Libra needs to be patient and thorough, rather than a sprint to implementation. We strongly agree. That was the spirit with which we published the white paper introducing the Libra project. The time between now and launch is designed to be an open process and subject to regulatory oversight and review. In fact, I expect that this will be the broadest, most extensive, and most careful pre-launch oversight by regulators and central banks in FinTech’s history,” he said.