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seven transactions a second;

Libra will start at 1,000). It

isn’t a bank account either,

something Facebook is keen

to stress for legal reasons, so

you won’t be earning interest

on your account, or get credit.

Libra is a stable private

blockchain digital currency,

and will be accessible through

Facebook applications. It is

not unlike a PayPal account in

operation, but without a link to

your bank account. Facebook

has developed a subsidiary,

Calibra, to handle it. You will

be able to store Libra “coins”

(or whatever units of Libra are

called; it’s not clear yet) on

the Calibra wallet application,

which links into WhatsApp and

Messenger. Libra will also be

available through Google Play.

Once an account is verified

using a government-issued

ID, you will be able to spend

hard cash to buy Libra, either

electronically or by handing

over actual folding stuff at the

planned participating outlets.

Facebook is in talks with

chains of convenience stores

to make cashing in and out

readily accessible.

You can then send your

Libra “coins” to another Libra

maximumpc.com OCT 2019 MAXIMUMPC 45