數位貨幣有3種 陳冲:這種最危險卻沒人管
加密貨幣昨天崩跌,投資人血流成河。行政院前院長、新世代基金會董事長陳冲指出,數位貨幣有三種,其中比特幣等加密貨幣(Cryptocurrency)無內在價值,也許是投資工具,但不是貨幣,「小心為上」。他指出,加密貨幣交易平台及交易事業今年7月1日將納入洗錢防制法歸管,跟上國際趨勢,但至今卻無主管機關,蔡政府總說「有政府,請安心」,但實際上「安心真不容易」。
近期交易價格從7000美元衝上6萬4829美元高點的比特幣,昨天一度崩跌30%,陷入3萬美元保衛戰,一個多月來市值仍蒸發逾40%。其他加密貨幣也未倖免於難,乙太幣與狗狗幣也一度大跌超過40%,昨天堪稱「血洗幣圈」的一日。
加密貨幣這波令投資人措手不及的殺盤,讓這項新興資產暴起暴落的風險展露無遺。金管會日前再次提醒民眾投資加密貨幣風險甚高,強調7月1日開始,台灣洗錢防制法將正式將虛擬通貨平台及交易業務事業納入洗錢防制範疇,未來虛擬貨幣投資須採實名制,預計5月將邀請國內八家交易平台業者參加公聽會。
國際上對加密貨幣的管控也收緊,中國銀行業協會、互聯網金融協會等三大團體在5月18日聯合公告,要求業者勿用虛擬貨幣(加密貨幣)為產品定價、不得提供虛擬貨幣相關服務、並要求消費者提高風險防範意識,此舉實已代表官方的風向。
5月初,韓國金管會(FSC)主席表示,鑒於各加密貨幣交易平台業者均未於3/25依法提出登記文件,政府有可能在9月24日新法所定期限,將全國二百家交易所全部勒令停業,以符國際上對虛擬資產服務業者(VASP,Virtual Asset Service Provider)的期待。
一般人稱「數位貨幣」有三種,陳冲分析,一種是央行數位貨幣(CBDC),依國際清算銀行(BIS)報告指出,三年內可見真章,時下是人民幣暫居領先。一種是模擬法定貨幣價值、與法定貨幣掛鉤的穩定幣(Stable coin),對目前發行法幣的各主要央行帶來挑戰,遭受不小的抵制,但未來發展非常看好。第三種則是加密貨幣,或稱虛擬貨幣、虛擬通貨;全世界加密貨幣大約有五千種,比特幣當然是箇中翹楚。
陳冲表示,比特幣不是錢,只是商品、投資工具,不是貨幣,更不是法償,因為這些加密貨幣沒有內在價值。但有商品,就有交易。十多年來,各種虛擬幣價格起伏劇烈,也成為洗錢工具的首選,常是國際洗錢防犯討論的要角,晚近各種交易平台的透明度,也被質疑。
配合國際趨勢,行政院四月初完成洗錢防制法第五條第四項的指定,將虛擬通貨平台及交易業務,界定為虛擬通貨與法定貨幣的互換、虛擬通貨間之交換/移轉、保管/管理虛擬通貨等。陳冲表示,規定雖不盡完美但都還有所本,卻暴露洗錢防制法長期以來無主管機關的爭議。
陳冲表示,今年七月一日以後虛擬資產服務業者以及通貨間的移轉/交換要納管,如果發生糾紛、出了問題,甚至刑事責任,還是得有主管機關負責。
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Facebook Diem announces US stablecoin launch
Facebook’s stablecoin project Diem has announced it is to launch a U.S. dollar pegged stablecoin, in the latest paring back of its international ambitions.
The project, formerly known as Libra, had been envisaging a worldwide roll-out for its stablecoin, which it had planned would be pegged to a weighted basket of international currencies. However, run-ins with regulators worldwide have resulted in several significant changes of direction in recent months, with the recent announcement the culmination of its reshaped ambitions ahead of launch.
The Diem Association, which runs the project, said it was moving its headquarters from Switzerland to the U.S., and would be withdrawing its application for a payment system license with the Swiss financial authorities.
Diem is now preparing to register as a money services business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
A pilot launch of the stablecoin is being planned in connection with California’s Silvergate Bank, though Diem has yet to confirm when the rollout will take place.
“We are committed to a payment system that is safe for consumers and businesses, makes payments faster and cheaper,” according to Diem.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority issued its own statement confirming Diem’s intentions to revoke its Swiss license application.
“Diem is planning to launch the payment system from the USA in a first phase because initially the project will focus on the USA as its target market.”
Plans for Facebook’s stablecoin, or Libra as it was then, were unveiled in June 2019, part of the company’s strategic ambition to expand into the global payments sector.
It had been hoped that Libra would allow for transactions between consumers, and consumers to businesses, as a form of digital payment native to the Facebook ecosystem.
The revised USD-only stablecoin strategy will now see Diem turn its focus to its domestic market in attempting to establish its foothold in the space.
See also: CoinGeek Live panel, The Future of Banking, Financial Products & Blockchain
New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeek’s Bitcoin for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoin—as originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto—and blockchain.
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