加密資產管理 前行政院長陳冲：臺仍缺主管機關
【記者張原彰／臺北報導】美國、韓國皆對加密貨幣提出監管措施，使包括比特幣在內的幣種價格大崩跌。新世代金融基金會董事長陳冲提出警告，指出比特幣等加密貨幣無內在價值，它或許是投資工具，但不是真的貨幣，而國內至今也無主管機關，若發生糾紛、出了問題，恐無人負責。
陳冲認為，所謂的數位貨幣分成兩種，一種是數位人民幣在內的「穩定幣」（Stable coin），各國的發展在三年內會見真章；另一種就是加密貨幣（Cryptocurrency），全世界約有五千種，比特幣屬箇中翹楚。但陳冲警告，後者或許可以作為投資工具，但不是貨幣，應「小心為上」。
對於比特幣，陳冲分析，那只是商品、投資工具，不是貨幣，更不是法償，而這樣的看法至今並無改變，最主要原因是「虛擬貨幣沒有『內在價值』（intrinsic value）」。
他說，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，常是國際洗錢防範討論的要角。有鑑於此，韓國政府可能在9月24日頒布新規定，將全國200家交易所全部勒令停業，以符合國際期待。
臺灣的情況是，行政院已在4月9日完成《洗錢防制法》對於虛擬通貨平臺及交易業務的相關規範，將其業務界定為虛擬通貨與法定貨幣的互換、虛擬通貨間的交換與移轉、保管與管理虛擬通貨等。陳冲說，規定雖不盡完美，但都還有所本。
陳冲說，這也暴露一項問題，對於虛擬通貨交易所以及通貨間的移轉與交換等，我國卻無主管機關，「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」。他呼籲，其他國家的狀況是由單一機關主政，或由數機關會銜，這都有前例，呼籲臺灣也應盡快完善。◇
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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