Meta plots stablecoin return years after libra retreat

Meta Platforms is weighing a return to stablecoins, reviving digital-asset ambitions several years after its high-profile retreat from the Libra/Diem project under regulatory pressure.

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is exploring the possibility of integrating stablecoins into its ecosystem in the second half of this year, citing people familiar with the matter. The renewed push would mark a significant strategic pivot for the social media giant, which abandoned its earlier crypto initiative amid intense scrutiny from U.S. and global regulators.

A second attempt after libra

Meta’s original foray into digital currencies began in 2019 with the launch of Libra, later rebranded as Diem. The project envisioned a global digital currency backed by a basket of fiat currencies and short-term government securities. It quickly drew criticism from lawmakers and central banks concerned about monetary sovereignty, financial stability and data privacy.

Under mounting pressure, key partners exited the consortium, and the initiative was eventually wound down. Its assets were sold to Silvergate Capital in 2022, effectively closing the chapter on Meta’s first crypto experiment.

The company’s renewed interest in stablecoins comes as regulatory clarity around dollar-pegged tokens has improved in several jurisdictions and as stablecoins have become core infrastructure in crypto trading, cross-border payments and decentralized finance.

Stablecoins move mainstream

Over the past two years, stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC have cemented their role as digital dollar proxies, facilitating billions of dollars in daily transaction volume. Meanwhile, traditional financial institutions and payment networks have begun piloting tokenized deposits and on-chain settlement.

In the U.S., lawmakers have advanced multiple proposals aimed at establishing a federal framework for stablecoin issuance, while jurisdictions such as the European Union have implemented dedicated regimes under MiCA. The shifting regulatory landscape appears to be creating a more predictable environment for large technology companies considering renewed entry.

For Meta, stablecoin integration could enhance in-app payments, creator monetization and cross-border transfers across its platforms, which collectively serve billions of users worldwide. Any move, however, is likely to attract close attention from policymakers given the company’s scale and its prior regulatory clashes.

Strategic recalibration

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has in recent years emphasized efficiency and product focus across Meta’s core businesses, including artificial intelligence and digital advertising. A stablecoin comeback would suggest a recalibrated, potentially more cautious approach compared to the sweeping global currency vision of Libra.

Rather than launching a proprietary token from scratch, Meta could explore partnerships or integrations with existing regulated stablecoin issuers. Such a model would reduce direct balance-sheet risk and potentially ease regulatory friction.

Whether regulators will view a second attempt more favorably remains an open question. But the timing underscores how dramatically the perception of stablecoins has shifted — from systemic threat to increasingly accepted component of digital financial infrastructure.

If Meta proceeds, it would not only signal renewed confidence from Big Tech in blockchain-based payments, but also test whether lessons from Libra have translated into a more viable path forward.

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