US CFTC Eases Rules for Tokenized Assets, Blockchain Recordkeeping

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has updated its guidance on tokenized assets and blockchain-based recordkeeping.

The CFTC clarified that customer funds can be managed in tokenized form if the investment asset is permitted under existing rules and certain conditions are met.

Futures commission merchants (FCMs) and others seeking to hold tokenized versions of assets they are allowed to invest in must ensure token holders have legal and economic rights that are the same as, or functionally equivalent to, the traditional form of the asset.

The CFTC said storing required records on a blockchain can also be used if relevant retention and access requirements are met.