U.S. Developments
Legislative Updates
Facebook’s David Marcus Testifies Before Congress on Libra
David Marcus, the Facebook blockchain chief in charge of its planned Libra cryptocurrency and Calibra-branded digital wallet, testified for two days before Congress last week to answer questions about the social media giant’s plans for a cryptocurrency. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered remarks at the hearing entitled “Examining Facebook’s Proposed Digital Currency and Data Privacy Considerations.” In the hearing, Marcus described how Congress asked Facebook for more information about how the Libra system would work, how it would access and use consumer financial information, and the privacy implications for consumers. Marcus stated that the Libra Association, a nonprofit based in Switzerland, would be tasked with managing the Libra network, and added that Facebook would be one of many members of the association involved with the project. It is not yet clear whether Facebook will implement a moratorium on Libra’s development pending the government’s probe into the proposed cryptocurrency. Despite Marcus’s extended testimony before Congress, there have been calls from congressional members to have Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testify on Capitol Hill to provide lawmakers with additional information about how Libra and Calibra will work and how they could be regulated.
Continue Reading Blockchain Week in Review: Week of July 19, 2019