CFTC Unveils New Guidance on Tokenized Assets, Blockchain Recordkeeping

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued new guidance on tokenized assets, allowing regulated firms to treat them similarly to their traditional counterparts. This means that firms can now invest customer funds in tokenized versions of assets that were previously deemed permissible, provided the legal and economic rights are equivalent or functionally equivalent.

The CFTC also confirmed that blockchain records can satisfy its recordkeeping rules, a move that brings distributed ledger technology further into regulated US markets. Private blockchain networks may not require offchain backup records, while public permissionless networks need contingency systems for emergencies.

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig framed the update as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto industry. The guidance follows the Senate's failure to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which would have given the CFTC authority over crypto spot markets.