Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Feb 20, 2026

The EU is questioning Facebook about risks from libra cryptocurrency

The EU is questioning Facebook about risks from libra cryptocurrency

The EU has sent a questionnaire to Facebook and the Libra Association seeking clarification about their proposed digital currency called libra.
The EU has sent a questionnaire to Facebook and the Libra Association seeking clarification about their proposed digital currency called libra.

The questionnaire has added another layer of scrutiny to the digital currency project.

PayPal announced Friday it was withdrawing from the project.

The executive branch of the European Union has sent a questionnaire to Facebook and the Libra Association seeking clarification about their proposed digital currency called libra.

Fresh questions posed by the European Commission “go beyond” previous antitrust concerns it raised with the Libra Association, the spokesperson said.

The questionnaire has added another layer of scrutiny to the digital currency project that Facebook launched in June. Regulators, policymakers and politicians around the world have piled on criticism of the project since it was unveiled.

“The Libra Association welcomes this public policy dialogue and multi-stakeholder process that will help unleash economic and social potential of digital currencies,” said Dante Disparte, Head of Policy and Communications for the Libra Association, in a statement Monday.

The latest round of questioning from the EU was first reported by the Financial Times on Sunday. The FT, citing a copy of the document, said the EU raised concerns over financial stability, money laundering and data privacy risks.

European countries like France have vowed to block libra’s development, saying it poses a risk to the sovereignty of nations’ currencies. Data privacy regulators in Europe have also expressed doubts over the combination of “vast reserves” of personal and financial information which would be gathered as part of the libra proposal.

Meanwhile, members of the House Financial Services Committee are demanding testimony by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company’s plans related to libra.

PayPal announced Friday it was withdrawing from the Libra Association, a Swiss-based nonprofit overseeing the project. The payments firm said it would focus instead on its own efforts to “democratize access to financial services for underserved populations.”

The Libra Association maintains its goal is to create a low-cost, fast payments network that can “empower billions of financial underserved people.” The 27 founding members of the association, which includes Facebook as well as other tech firms like Uber and Spotify, are scheduled to meet next week in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a tweet Friday, the Libra Association said 1,500 entities have “indicated enthusiastic interest” to participate in the project.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Concerns Mount Over Potential Saudi Uranium Enrichment in Prospective US Nuclear Accord
Investability Emerges as the Defining Test of Saudi Arabia’s Next Market Phase
Saudi Arabia’s Packaging Market Accelerates as Sustainability and E-Commerce Drive Transformation
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Minerals Drive Offers Lessons for Europe’s Supply Chain Ambitions
Saudi Arabia Unveils $32 Billion Push Into Theme Parks and Global Entertainment
Saudi Crude Exports to India Climb Sharply, Closing Gap With Russia
Saudi Arabia’s Halal Cosmetics Market Expands as Faith and Ethical Beauty Drive Growth
United Kingdom Denies U.S. Access to Military Base for Potential Iran Strike
ImmunityBio Secures Saudi Partnerships to Launch Flagship Cancer Therapy
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Launch Expanded Renewable Energy Partnership
US Supreme Court Voids Trump’s Emergency Tariff Plan, Reshaping Trade Power and Fiscal Risk
UK Intensifies Efforts to Secure Saudi Investment in Next-Generation Fighter Jet Programme
Saudi Arabia Tops Middle East Green Building Rankings with Record Growth in 2025
Qatar and Saudi Arabia Each Commit One Billion Dollars to President Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Initiative
Ramadan 2026 Prayer Times Set as Fasting Begins in Saudi Arabia and Egypt Announces Dates
Saudi Arabia Launches Ramadan 2026 Hotel Campaign to Boost Religious and Leisure Tourism
Saudi Arabia Seeks Reroute of Greece-Bound Fibre-Optic Cable Through Syria Instead of Israel
Saudi-Backed Scopely Acquires Majority Stake in Turkey’s Loom Games to Expand Mobile Portfolio
Zodiac Milpro Launches Zid Marine Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia to Expand Regional Shipbuilding
Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Reform Path Amid Claims of Ideological Reversal
Calls Grow for Saudi Arabia and UAE to Settle Differences Through Direct Dialogue
Jensen Huang just told the story of how Elon Musk became NVIDIA’s very first customer for their powerful AI supercomputer
British couple sentenced to 10 years in Iran for espionage
Former British Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office
Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing showcases future robot deployment during Spring Festival Gala.
Prince William Holds Talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman During Saudi Visit
Saudi Arabia’s Humain Commits $3 Billion Investment to Elon Musk’s xAI
SCOPA Executive Unveils Ambitious Relaunch Strategy for Saudi Production Company
Saudi Arabia Sees Rise in Business Visa Rejections Amid Tighter Compliance Checks
Saudi PIF Transfers Take-Two Stake to Savvy Games Group in Strategic Gaming Push
Jimmy Carr Says He ‘Loved’ Saudi Arabia Show Amid Debate Over Performing in the Kingdom
Sotheby’s ‘Origins II’ Auction Signals Saudi Collectors’ Shift Toward Cultural Legacy
EY and Microsoft Deepen Saudi Arabia Partnership with Launch of EY Studio+
Google Pay Launches Support for Mastercard Cards in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Bolsters Maritime Surveillance Fleet with Four C-27J Patrol Aircraft
Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia Deepen Strategic Partnership with New Investment and Energy Agreements
Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Kazakhstan’s President Amid Expanding Strategic Ties
ImmunityBio Shares Rise After Saudi Arabia BCG Manufacturing Update Spurs Investor Optimism
Global Music Star Tyla Confirmed as Headliner at 2026 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Entertainment Lineup
Somalia and Saudi Arabia Forge New Military Partnership Amid Regional Power Shifts
Saudi Arabia and Several Nations Criticize Israeli West Bank Land Measures as Diplomatic Tensions Rise
Saudi Public Investment Fund Transfers Stake in Take-Two Interactive as Portfolio Strategy Evolves
Saudi Arabia’s Flagship Defense Expo Highlights Industrial Ambitions and Expanding Arms Portfolio
Strategic Divergence Deepens as Saudi Arabia and UAE Recalibrate Gulf Partnership
Saudi Arabia Confirms Start of Ramadan as Crescent Moon Sighted, While Other Nations Begin a Day Later
Rubio Calls for Sweeping U.N. Reform, Saying It Has Failed to End Wars in Gaza and Ukraine
10,000 Condoms Distributed at Winter Olympics 2026 Athlete Village Depleted Within 72 Hours
Prince William Meets Saudi Crown Prince as Epstein-Andrew Fallout Casts Shadow
Goldman Sachs and DP World Executive Resignations: Elite-Reputation Risk and Corporate Governance Fallout From the Epstein Disclosures
OpenAI and DeepCent Superintelligence Race: Artificial General Intelligence and AI Agents as a National Security Arms Race
×