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Meta abandons its Crypto ambitions
Meta abandons its Crypto ambitions

Meta abandons its Crypto ambitions

Meta revealed its plans to roll out a digital wallet ‘Calibra’ and a virtual coin ‘Libra’ in June 2019.

Published Updated

Key takeaways

  • Meta initially launched the Libra project in 2019 to facilitate easier financial transactions for users.
  • The Libra project faced significant scrutiny regarding its implications for financial stability and data privacy.
  • Meta has now opted to sell its technology to Silvergate Capital Corp, marking a shift in its crypto strategy.
  • The digital wallet Calibra was rebranded to Novi in 2020, reflecting changes in Meta's approach.
  • Key partnerships with major financial entities were established, but concerns ultimately hindered the project's progress.
5 min

Facebook (now known as Meta) founded The Diem Association in 2019 to build a payments network. The company is now selling its technology to California-based bank Silvergate Capital Corp for about USD 200 million.

Meta revealed its plans to roll out a digital wallet ‘Calibra’ and a virtual coin ‘Libra’ in June 2019. Later, they renamed the wallet to Novi in May 2020.

The Libra project aimed at helping Facebook users spend money as easily as sending a text message.

Libra partnered with eBay, Mastercard, Stripe, PayPal, and Visa to launch the project. In fact, the partners had also agreed to join the Libra Association, a Switzerland-based group that would govern the stablecoin. Libra sparked concerns over its effect on financial stability, data privacy and the potential to be misused for nefarious purposes.

Meta owns one third of the venture and other partners include Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, Ribbit Capital, Thrive Capital, Singapore state-owned investor Temasek Holdings Pte. 

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