Washington (AFP)

Facebook could launch a digital wallet allowing users of the social network to store cryptocurrency there, without waiting for the creation of its own "stablecoin", the diem, a senior group official said on Wednesday in an interview with The Information site.

According to David Marcus, in charge of crypto projects at Facebook, the social network teams "are very committed" to the launch this year of this virtual wallet, called Novi.

Mr. Marcus said he would prefer to introduce the Novi application at the same time as the diem, the digital currency indexed to the dollar, which is in the making within the association of the same name of which Facebook is a part.

But he hinted that the process of launching this "stablecoin" was initially in the hands of the association of the same name and that the regulatory environment was not yet clear.

The Diem association notably includes the French group Iliad (parent company of the operator Free), the Swedish music streaming giant Spotify and the American group Uber.

"The Novi portfolio is ready (...). We are at the point where we are ready to launch it on the market after having acquired the licenses required to operate in the United States and in other countries", indicated the leader. from Facebook to the specialized site.

"In theory, you can start Novi before the diem but that's not necessarily what you want to do," he continued, adding: "It will depend on how long it takes for the diem to appear. . "

David Marcus has not indicated whether Facebook's digital wallet will be able to hold other cryptocurrencies.

In 2019, Facebook had displayed its ambition in digital currencies by announcing the project of a currency indexed to the dollar, the "libra", which had sparked a regulatory outcry.

The logo of the Libra cryptocurrency, Facebook's project for a currency indexed to the dollar, September 26, 2019 in Geneva Fabrice COFFRINI AFP / Archives

In 2020, the social network had revised its project downwards.

Libra had been renamed diem, and the "Calibra" portfolio project had become Novi.

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