CFTC Clarifies Tokenized Assets and Blockchain Records

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has updated its crypto and blockchain FAQs to provide clarity on how regulated futures-market firms can use tokenized permitted investments and blockchain-based records.

The update addresses investments of customer funds in tokenized forms of assets that futures firms are legally permitted to hold, providing a clearer compliance framework for maintaining transaction and account records on distributed ledgers.

Records held through blockchain systems must still satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, including access for examination. This change gives futures-market participants a better understanding of how to maintain records while utilizing blockchain technology.