Digital & Technology

Temasek joins Libra Association

Temasek, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore has been reported to have joined the Libra Association, a Swiss independent member organisation developing a blockchain-based payment system, alongside Paradigm and Slow Ventures.

The design of a blockchain-based payment system that supports responsible financial services innovation and inclusion for billions of people requires a diverse set of members in different industries, geographies and sectors to help catalyse development over the long term, said the Libra Association in a press release.

Temasek, headquartered in Singapore, brings a differentiated position as an Asia-focused investor, said the Association. With its forward looking and long-term view, Temasek sees innovative technologies such as blockchain as transformative enablers of growth. Temasek’s efforts to support and advance the use of blockchain technology across a range of use cases, asset classes and sectors, reflects its drive to explore, develop and invest in solutions to bring about a better, smarter, and more sustainable world.

Meanwhile, Paradigm and Slow Ventures add to the Association's membership of investment funds, whose technological prowess and commitment to developing the blockchain and digital assets market segment will help spur long term developments in the Libra payment system's open and competitive standard.

San Francisco-based Paradigm is a crypto investment firm focused on leading crypto assets and businesses from the earliest stages of idea formation through maturity.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Slow Ventures invests in companies central to the technology industry and those on the edges of science, society, and culture. Slow Ventures has backed successful technology-driven disruptors including Slack, Postmates and Airtable.

Dante Disparte, Vice Chairman and Head of Policy & Communications, Libra Association, said: “The addition of three new members to the Libra Association shows our commitment to building a diverse group of organisations that will contribute to the governance, technological roadmap and launch readiness for the Libra payment system. We are honoured to welcome Temasek, Paradigm and Slow Ventures to this effort. Each of these organisations shares our overall mission alignment bringing unique capabilities and long-term focus on market development for blockchain and digital assets.”

The addition of three new members grows the Libra Association's membership, including Heifer International, Checkout.com, Shopify and Tagomi, which were announced earlier in 2020.