Visa, Mastercard shun Facebook's Libra digital currency plan
The HinduVisa and Mastercard on Friday announced their departure from Facebook’s Libra project, a major setback to the social network’s plan for a worldwide digital currency. The Libra Association, based in Switzerland, was supposed to give the currency project a comfortable arm’s length distance from Facebook, which wouldn’t own Libra. Visa said Friday that it would re-examine a potential membership in the Libra Association if and when Facebook is able “to fully satisfy all requisite regulatory expectations” in its development of Libra. “Visa’s continued interest in Libra stems from our belief that well-regulated blockchain-based networks could extend the value of secure digital payments to a greater number of people and places, particularly in emerging and developing markets,” the company said.