CFTC Says Commodities Firms Can Invest in Tokenized Assets

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued new guidance clarifying that regulated commodities firms can invest customer funds in tokenized assets and use blockchain technology for official recordkeeping.

The agency’s updated guidance, issued on September 24, 2026, advises platforms it oversees that tokenized assets can be treated the same as the underlying assets they represent. This move effectively removes a potential regulatory barrier for firms looking to allocate capital to tokenized versions of commodities, securities, or other financial instruments.

In a significant endorsement of the technology’s utility, the CFTC also stated that using blockchain networks to maintain required books and records is permissible under existing regulations. This provides legal certainty for derivatives brokers and futures commission merchants (FCMs) adopting distributed ledger technology for compliance purposes.

The guidance represents the latest in a series of policy moves by the derivatives regulator to accommodate crypto and blockchain activity within its jurisdiction. It signals a continued effort to integrate emerging technologies into the traditional financial framework overseen by the commission.