UK Chancellor: Libra Could Be Positive and Transformative if Appropriately Regulated

Appearing on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ segment earlier today, Hammond stated that he acknowledged the risk of Facebook’s recently-detailed Libra digital currency but thought that development could be positive:

“Well it’s potentially a positive, transformative step, but it also has the potential to deliver great risk into the system… If it’s not properly regulated it could become another channel for money launderers, terrorist financers, organised criminals.”

The UK Believes in Libra

Hammond claims that UK lawmakers aren’t going to try and stop Libra and are prepared to work with Facebook to make sure it is effectively regulated. In a recent Donald Trump Tweet, the President stated that Facebook would need to register as a bank if it wants to offer Libra to the American market. Chancellor Hammond, however, said that in the UK that it’s an issue for the regulators and not for politicians to rule on. He concluded by reiterating the transformative potential and risks posed by Libra. Therefore, the social media firm’s digital currency should be careful when regulating:

“It is very important that anyone operating some systemically important structure, and this could be systemically important, is properly regulated and appropriately regulated.”

Libra Boosting Bitcoin?

Facebook’s Libra was unveiled almost a month ago now and in that time, many financial regulators, lawmakers, and central bankers from around the world have argued that the social media company’s plans will need heavy scrutiny before Libra receives a green light to launch. In cryptocurrency circles, it is widely acknowledged that Bitcoin offers an entirely different value proposition to Libra and therefore is not in competition with the stablecoin. There are many market analysts who believe that the launch of Libra, which is penned for 2020, will be a boon for Bitcoin since it should enable users to convert fiat funds to the digital asset more easily than ever before, as well as familiarising the masses with a purely digital form of money. What do you think about Philip Hammond’s comments on Libra? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.