66% of Europe Refuse to Use Calibra for Libra Transfers

The results of a cryptocurrency survey conducted by the Dutch banking group, ING, revealed a significant lack of appetite for Facebook's Libra, and its designated use case: Sending payments across social media.

Taking 15,000 Europeans, from 15 distinct countries, the survey collated Europe's sentiment around digital currencies. Questions ranged from the future of cryptocurrencies to whether or not respondents would go swap cryptos out in lieu of cash.

Want Some Libra? Probably Not

One distinct revelation came from a statement concerning social media payments. According to the results, an overwhelming 66% of European respondents answered the statement, "I would send money to friends or family using social media," with "disagree." Meanwhile, only 17% of those in Europe approved of remittance via social platforms, and a further 17% remained ambivalent.

Out of the 15 countries, Austria, one of Europe's strongest economies, was the most opposed to sending cryptocurrencies via social media platforms. Participants recorded a massive 82% in defiance to social media-based payments.

Libra Finds Love in Turkey

Turkey's citizens are the most convinced about a Libra-like currency. The country split down the middle, relaying a 43% divide between those who would use social media payments, and those who would refuse.

Turkey also cited a considerable level of support for cryptocurrency in general with 62% of the country positive about the future of digital payments, nearly doubling the sentiment presented by U.S. respondents.

The support shown by Turkey is perhaps no surprise. The Turkish economy is currently facing a crisis, and the government has once again slashed interest rates to quell a recession. Meanwhile, research suggests that the use of cryptocurrencies within the country is on the rise.

Outside of Europe, the results were much the same. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. and 76% of Australian respondents widely rejected the idea of social media payments.

Speaking to CCN, Jessica Exton, a behavioral scientist in ING’s consumer economics team, explained the cautiousness of respondents:

People tend to rate technologies they are relatively familiar with as more secure. And when it comes to our personal finances, security is considered essential. It is, therefore, possible that a lack of experience and familiarity in combining money and social media may be driving the responses we see. But attitudes can change quickly, particularly if people recognise an obvious use, and this drives broader social acceptance.

This represents an inauspicious result for Facebook's nascent cryptocurrency, Libra. Via Facebook's subsidiary, Calibra, the firm plans to enable payments across Facebook's various messaging apps, allowing low fee remittances to anywhere in the world. If ING's survey is considered as a quasi-feedback round for Libra, the results aren't all too promising.

Cash Still Reigns King

It's not just Libra turning Europeans off. Evidently, the idea of relinquishing fiat altogether is an unpleasant thought. More than half (54%) of all respondents disagreed with abandoning cash. Austria once again topped the poll, with 74% reluctant to let go of paper money. It was followed by Germany, citing 64% of partakers.

Exton told CCN that while many are curious about the future use of cryptocurrencies, they don't see it replacing cash, possibly because cash still retains some everyday use and is not yet met by alternatives.

"One reason why people say they want to retain access to cash may be its current relevance to day-to-day financial management activities. Cryptocurrencies aren’t accepted in most stores and the volatility can make them a relatively unattractive short-term store of value."

…but for How Long?

Speaking on the possible catalysts for a cashless society, Exton stressed the importance of mass adoption, as well as relevance to our "everyday lives."

Given we see higher trust in the technologies people are more familiar with, and a relative openness towards the idea of banks offering current accounts in cryptocurrencies (27% agree, 33% on the fence), a digital currency hybrid which combines the providers and processes we know with new forms of currency, may act as a transitional tool. Incremental developments in how decentralised currencies are made available for use may be more palatable than drastic change.

Indeed, the results of a subsequent poll statement highlighted financial management as a potential disruptor of cash. Responses to the idea of banks offering bitcoin revealed that 40% of total European participants opposed; a further 27% agreed, and the remaining 33% were uncertain.

A suggestion for a hybrid was offered by the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney. In a recent speech, Carney advised that a"Synthetic Hegemonic Currency” would best be offered via a network of central bank digital currencies (CBDC). Meanwhile, central banks across the globe vie to beat Facebook's cryptocurrency venture to the punch with various plans for their own CBDCs. Against this backdrop, it seems the rise of digital currencies is inevitable.

September 18, 2019 3:00 PM