The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) updated its guidance regarding tokenized assets and blockchain technology on Thursday, September 25, 2026. Under the updated guidance, registered commodity firms are permitted to invest customer funds into tokenized assets. The CFTC set one key requirement for this new authorization: tokenized assets must grant holders the same, or functionally equivalent, legal and economic rights as those held in traditional forms.
In the same document, the CFTC issued a no-objection position regarding supervised firms using blockchain-based ledger technology. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig described the updated rules as part of the agency’s efforts to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto industry.
The CFTC’s new guidance comes just days after legislative efforts stalled in Congress.
Filling the Legislative Void
Last week, the US Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The failure to secure sufficient votes in a cloture session has fueled market expectations that Congress will not finalize crypto market structure regulations before 2027.
Without new statutory framework from lawmakers, regulatory agencies like the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have moved independently through rulemaking to fill the legislative void. The CFTC has progressed further by submitting its crypto market regulatory proposals to the White House for review.
The SEC’s actions follow a similar proactive regulatory path. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins previously emphasized that his agency is ready, willing, and able to propose crypto rules even without congressional action. Atkins’ comments referred to the SEC’s August 2026 proposed rule regarding certain investment contracts involving crypto assets.
New Focus: Customer Funds and Blockchain
Thursday’s CFTC decision targets a different scope from its earlier guidance. In prior releases, the CFTC opened pathways for tokenized assets specifically within derivatives markets. The new rules focus specifically on governing the investment of customer funds and authorizing blockchain-based ledger technology.
The deadlock over the CLARITY Act in the Senate ultimately closed only one regulatory door. As Congress stalled on comprehensive legislation, regulatory agencies stepped in to take control through their administrative authority.
Source: Cointelegraph.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
