CFTC Greenlights Tokenized Assets, Allows Blockchain Records

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has updated its guidance on tokenized assets, allowing regulated firms to invest in them as long as they meet certain conditions. According to the agency, tokenized forms of assets must grant holders legal and economic rights that are the same or functionally equivalent to those received by traditional asset holders.

The CFTC also clarified its stance on blockchains, stating that they can be used as official transaction records for regulatory purposes. This includes private networks, but firms using public and permissionless blockchains must establish systems to retain and produce records in case of an emergency or network disruption.

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig said the agency is committed to providing regulatory clarity for the crypto industry. The updated guidance comes as the US Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which would have established a regulatory regime for the industry.