This article by **Mark Goodwin and Whitney Webb**, published...

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This article by Mark Goodwin and Whitney Webb, published on 31 October 2024 as part of the series “The Chain”, argues that Facebook’s Libra/Diem project was not a genuine failure, but rather a key step in laying the political, regulatory and technological groundwork for a new digital monetary infrastructure. According to the authors, the underlying objective was not merely to launch a Facebook currency, but to promote a model in which private digital money is integrated with surveillance, state regulation and the dominance of the dollar. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])
The central thesis is that PayPal, Facebook and figures close to Peter Thiel had been pursuing a kind of “new global currency” for years. The article highlights that David Marcus, former president of PayPal, led Libra at Facebook, and presents Libra as an attempt to leverage Facebook’s enormous user base to create a global monetary network. When regulators put the brakes on the project, the authors interpret this setback not as a definitive end, but as a phase that helped shape the regulatory framework for subsequent stablecoins. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])
The text then links Libra, Silvergate, SVB, Paxos, PayPal USD, the crypto lobby and stablecoin legislation as parts of the same financial reconfiguration. The idea is that, following the visible collapse of Libra, many of its goals and personal networks lived on in new companies, alliances and products. In this interpretation, dollar-pegged stablecoins do not compete against the US system, but rather extend the hegemony of the dollar across the internet and public blockchains. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])
The article’s conclusion is highly critical: the authors argue that the Bitcoin + dollar-pegged stablecoins ecosystem has ended up serving less an idea of financial freedom and more a new order in which private companies, Wall Street and Washington jointly reinforce US monetary power. They also contend that this model facilitates financial surveillance and preserves the dollar’s global leadership rather than weakening it. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])
Put very simply: the article says that Libra ‘died’ in the public eye, but that its true legacy was to pave the way for the world of regulated dollar-pegged stablecoins, with PayPal and similar players as the main beneficiaries. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])
I can also provide you with an even shorter version, in 5 lines, or a neutral summary separating the facts from the article and the authors’ conclusions/opinions.
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"content": "This article by **Mark Goodwin and Whitney Webb**, published on **31 October 2024** as part of the series **“The Chain”**, argues that Facebook’s **Libra/Diem** project was not a genuine failure, but rather a key step in laying the political, regulatory and technological groundwork for a new digital monetary infrastructure. According to the authors, the underlying objective was not merely to launch a Facebook currency, but to promote a model in which private digital money is integrated with surveillance, state regulation and the dominance of the dollar. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])\n\nThe central thesis is that **PayPal, Facebook and figures close to Peter Thiel** had been pursuing a kind of “new global currency” for years. The article highlights that **David Marcus**, former president of PayPal, led Libra at Facebook, and presents Libra as an attempt to leverage Facebook’s enormous user base to create a global monetary network. When regulators put the brakes on the project, the authors interpret this setback not as a definitive end, but as a phase that helped shape the regulatory framework for subsequent **stablecoins**. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])\n\nThe text then links **Libra, Silvergate, SVB, Paxos, PayPal USD, the crypto lobby and stablecoin legislation** as parts of the same financial reconfiguration. The idea is that, following the visible collapse of Libra, many of its goals and personal networks lived on in new companies, alliances and products. In this interpretation, dollar-pegged stablecoins do not compete against the US system, but rather **extend the hegemony of the dollar** across the internet and public blockchains. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])\n\nThe article’s conclusion is highly critical: the authors argue that the **Bitcoin + dollar-pegged stablecoins** ecosystem has ended up serving less an idea of financial freedom and more a new order in which private companies, Wall Street and Washington jointly reinforce US monetary power. They also contend that this model facilitates **financial surveillance** and preserves the dollar’s global leadership rather than weakening it. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])\n\nPut very simply: **the article says that Libra ‘died’ in the public eye, but that its true legacy was to pave the way for the world of regulated dollar-pegged stablecoins, with PayPal and similar players as the main beneficiaries**. ([Unlimited Hangout][1])\n\nI can also provide you with an **even shorter version**, in 5 lines, or a **neutral summary separating the facts from the article and the authors’ conclusions/opinions**.\n\nnostr:nevent1qqsz4j99qw8tu8du4uqdz3salhmdu6df8v0le6em4h0sulldetalpfczyr70wzj9e75p064gzwum4z3ht4cn6vtf7j3870w2c02fzyklvlfhuqcyqqqqqqgpzpmhxue69uhkymmnw3ezuumgdacqmmulwg",
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