Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency has attracted a lot of interest from investors since it was announced in June 2019. Libra is not a typical cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, as it is backed by real-world assets and is not fully decentralised. There are two ways to invest in Libra: by buying Facebook shares or by buying Libra itself. However, it is important to note that Libra is not yet available to the public and there are regulatory concerns surrounding it. For those still interested in investing in Libra, the Libra Method website is currently the only platform where you can buy and trade Libra Coin outside of the U.S. It requires a minimum deposit of $250 to activate your trading profile.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of cryptocurrency | Stablecoin |
Backed by | Fiat currencies and cash equivalents |
Founders | |
Year of foundation | 2019 |
Number of founders | 28 companies |
Current owner | Diem Association |
Current CEO | Stuart Levey |
Current status | Under development |
Expected launch year | 2025 |
Expected launch month | N/A |
Minimum investment | $250 |
Best platform to buy | Libra Method |
Risks | High-risk investment |
What You'll Learn
Libra Coin's high-risk investment
Libra Coin is a cryptocurrency founded by Facebook in 2019. It is a centralised payment system, with each member of the Diem Association (formerly the Libra Association) running validator nodes for the Diem token. The Diem Association is an independent non-profit organisation based in Switzerland, which governs and develops the project.
Libra Coin is a high-risk investment. It is not yet possible to mine Libra Coin, and it is not yet available to buy or trade. The only platform where you can currently buy and trade Libra Coin outside of the U.S. is Libra Method, an automated trading robot. However, it is important to note that this platform is not a crypto exchange or brokerage service.
There are several risks associated with investing in Libra Coin. Firstly, there are concerns about Facebook's poor track record on privacy and security. While Facebook has created a subsidiary called Calibra to run its crypto dealings and keep transaction data separate from social data, there are still fears that user data and money could be at risk.
Another risk is that regulators have yet to approve the coin, and it is still under scrutiny in the US and India. There are concerns that Facebook is trying to centralise control of tomorrow's money, and that the Libra Association will not adequately scrutinise developers trying to build a Libra wallet, exchange or other related apps.
Finally, it is important to note that cryptocurrency is a highly volatile and unpredictable market. The value of Libra Coin could increase or decrease significantly, and investors could lose all their money. Therefore, it is crucial to do thorough research and understand the risks before investing in Libra Coin or any other cryptocurrency.
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Libra Investment Tokens
Facebook is launching two cryptocurrencies: Libra, which will be available to the general public, and the Libra Investment Token, which will only be available to Facebook and its corporate partners. The Libra Investment Token is a security that will be held by heavyweight backers such as Visa, Mastercard, and Uber. These backers will collect any interest accrued on the reserves that back the value of Libra through the Libra Investment Tokens. The tokens also represent voting power over how the reserves are managed.
The Libra Investment Token is like a share in a company, deriving value from expected future cash flows. In the case of Libra, the cash flows are the interest earned on the reserves. The Libra Investment Token holders will reap the returns on their investments if the Libra network is successful and the reserve grows substantially in size.
The Libra Association, a Swiss not-for-profit organisation, puts the money from the sale of Libra into a variety of low-risk, short-term investments like U.S. Treasury bills. The funds are then used to fund the operation of the network, with the remainder being divided among the Libra Investment Token holders according to their holdings and policies determined by the association.
The association itself is made up of holders of the Libra Investment Token, who invested a minimum of $10 million, as well as "special impact groups" selected by the association to have a vote but who don't have to buy the investment token.
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Libra's potential for billion-dollar returns
Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency has the potential to deliver billion-dollar returns, but it is not without its challenges and risks.
Firstly, it's important to understand that Facebook is launching two cryptocurrencies: Libra, and the Libra Investment Token. The former is a non-speculative token available to the public, while the latter is only available to Facebook and its corporate partners. The Libra Investment Token is where the real value lies for investors, as it offers the potential for substantial returns.
The Libra Investment Token is backed by a basket of fiat currencies and cash equivalents, meaning there is theoretical real-world value behind each token. For every dollar of Libra purchased, there is a "dollar" worth of assets that the token can be exchanged for. This is where the opportunity for billion-dollar returns comes into play.
According to the Libra white paper, the funds generated from the sale of Libra tokens will be used to fund the operation of the network, with the remainder being divided among the Libra Investment Token holders. The more adoption and usage Libra achieves, the more funds will be generated, resulting in higher returns for the holders of the Libra Investment Token.
Let's consider an example to illustrate the potential returns. Assume that after a couple of years, Libra has achieved adoption equal to 10% of the US money supply (M1). If Libra has sold $1 billion worth of investment tokens and it costs $1 billion per year to run the network, the Libra Association would be generating almost $7 billion in interest per year. This results in a yearly return on investment (ROI) of 688.51%, which is an incredibly high yield for a portfolio of low-risk instruments.
Over ten years, a hypothetical investment of $10 million (the minimum threshold for investment tokens) would return dividends of $688 million. And this is just the conservative scenario. If Libra achieves higher adoption rates or generates additional revenue streams, the returns could be even more significant.
However, it is important to note that investing in Libra is a high-risk venture. Regulatory challenges, privacy concerns, and competition from other cryptocurrencies could impact the success of Libra. Additionally, as with any new technology, there is always the risk of unforeseen issues or challenges that could impact the project's success.
In conclusion, while Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency has the potential to deliver billion-dollar returns, it is a speculative investment that carries a significant amount of risk. Investors should carefully consider these risks and conduct thorough research before deciding to invest in Libra or any other cryptocurrency.
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Libra's status as a security
Libra is a cryptocurrency founded by Facebook in 2019. Libra is not decentralised and anonymous like Bitcoin; instead, it is controlled by the Diem Association, which governs and develops the project. Each council member of the Diem Association gets to elect one representative per association member.
Libra is a fiat-collateralized stablecoin backed by the Libra Reserve, which contains real assets. These assets include short-term government securities in stable, reputable currencies and bank deposits. This is to minimise volatility, which is a common issue with cryptocurrencies.
Libra will also support other fiat currencies such as the British Pound, Euro, and Singapore Dollar. It will also launch a multicurrency called XDM, which is a composite of its single-currency coins.
Libra is not available to buy yet, but it is expected to be available in 2024. The best platform to buy Libra Coin is the Libra Method website, which is currently the only platform where you can buy and trade Libra Coin outside of the U.S. However, it is important to note that this platform is not a crypto exchange or brokerage service but an automated trading robot.
To start, you will need to register for an account and deposit a minimum of $250 to activate your trading profile. Once you have made your deposit, you are eligible to begin trading online.
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Libra's future as a stablecoin
Libra is a stablecoin—kind of. The term stablecoin is a semantic grey area. Any cryptocurrency pegged to either a fiat currency or a government-backed security is considered a stablecoin. Stablecoins are less volatile than cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, which isn't pegged to anything.
Libra is pegged to a group of low-volatility assets, including bank deposits and government securities, in multiple currencies. These include the US dollar, the Euro, and the Singapore dollar. This makes it more sophisticated and stable than other cryptocurrencies, eliminating the usual price swings.
Libra will be a fiat-collateralized stablecoin with the backing of the Libra Reserve, a reserve containing real assets. The assets in the reserve will include short-term government securities in stable, reputable currencies and bank deposits. This will minimize volatility.
The Libra Association, which governs and develops the project, will be in charge of validating transactions and managing the Libra Reserve. Libra will be managed under the Libra Association, an independent non-profit organization based in Switzerland.
Diem is building its own protocol called the Diem Blockchain, which will use an innovative smart contract language called Move to ensure the security of digital assets. The Diem Blockchain will also use a Merkle Tree system instead of blocks, allowing it to scale to billions of Bitcoin accounts.
The future of Libra as a stablecoin depends on its ability to address regulatory concerns and gain approval from financial regulators. If it can do so, it has the potential to become a widely-used global e-currency.
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Frequently asked questions
Libra is a cryptocurrency founded by Facebook, which is yet to be launched officially. The best platform to buy Libra Coin is Libra Method, which is currently the only platform where you can buy and trade Libra Coin outside of the U.S. To get started, you need to deposit a minimum of $250 to activate your trading profile.
Libra is not a cryptocurrency, it's a security. It is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
Libra is backed by actual reserves, such as cash and government bonds. The Libra Association puts your money into a variety of low-risk, short-term investments like U.S. Treasury bills.
Libra is different from other cryptocurrencies as it is launching as a stablecoin. It is also controlled by the Diem Association, which governs and develops the project.