RBA’s Lowe Isn’t Friending Facebook’s Cryptocurrency Just Yet

(Bloomberg) — Australia’s central bank chief has a message for those waiting to use Facebook’s (NASDAQ:) proposed cryptocurrency: don’t hold your breath.

The social media network unveiled plans this week for Libra, a global financial system that will allow its more than 2 billion users to make everyday transactions online. When quizzed about its implications for Australia, Governor Philip Lowe — already a long-time skeptic about cryptocurrencies — suggested the project might be a long way off yet.

“There’s a lot of water under the bridge before Facebook’s proposal becomes something we’re using all the time,” said Lowe, when asked about the implications for Libra at a Q&A session in Adelaide on Thursday.

“There are a lot of regulatory issues that need to be addressed and they’ve got to make sure there’s a solid business case, so we’ve got to be careful before we jump to conclusions.”

Lowe was an outspoken critic of , the most well-known cryptocurrency, back in 2017. He described its ascension as “speculative mania” and said it was probably more appealing to criminals than consumers.

“I have long thought that a kind of cryptocurrency would not take off in Australia because we already have a very, very efficient electronic payments system that allows anyone of us to make bank payments to another person in five seconds just knowing their mobile phone number,” Lowe said Thursday.

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