CFTC updates tokenized-asset and blockchain-record guidance after Selig’s mass-tokenization call
CFTC staff updated FAQs on customer-fund investments in qualifying tokenized assets and blockchain records after Selig called for mass tokenization.
Why it matters
The update gives CFTC-regulated futures firms staff guidance on investing customer funds in qualifying tokenized assets and keeping official records on blockchain. The permitted-asset, custody, liquidity, concentration and maturity conditions remain part of the investment test.
Key facts
The FAQs allow CFTC-regulated futures commission merchants and derivatives clearing organizations to invest customer funds in tokenized versions of already permitted investments when the token preserves the same or functionally equivalent legal and economic rights.
Reported by CoinDesk
A qualifying tokenized investment must be properly held, meet liquidity, concentration and maturity limits, and sit with an acceptable depository.
Reported by CoinDesk
Staff expect a firm using a tokenized government money market fund to obtain a written acknowledgment from the fund’s custodian.
Reported by Unchained
CFTC staff said they would not object to a registered records entity using blockchain for official transaction records.
Reported by CoinDesk
Selig called for financial markets to prepare for mass tokenization and 24/7 onchain markets.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Selig said tokenized collateral could move in real time among clearinghouses, intermediaries and users and make liquidity more dynamic.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Selig said the FAQ update was intended to provide regulatory clarity, but Cointelegraph reported that he did not say the Senate’s failed CLARITY Act vote caused the change.
Reported by Cointelegraph
What happened
On September 24, 2026, CFTC staff updated four crypto-asset FAQ entries in a set first published on March 20, covering customer-fund investments in tokenized assets and blockchain recordkeeping. The update lets futures commission merchants and derivatives clearing organizations invest customer funds in tokenized versions of already permitted assets when the token carries the same or functionally equivalent legal and economic rights and meets the stated custody, liquidity, concentration and maturity conditions. For a tokenized government money market fund, staff expect the firm to obtain a written acknowledgment from the fund’s custodian. Staff also said they would not object to a registered records entity using blockchain for official transaction records. Selig said the FAQ changes were intended to provide regulatory clarity after he called for mass tokenization and 24/7 onchain finance; Cointelegraph reported that he did not say the Senate’s failed CLARITY Act vote was behind the update.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by Cointelegraph
CFTC chair pushes tokenization as SEC opens door to onchain stocks
- Update
Senate leaves CLARITY Act stalled
The Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on September 15.
- Update
First report of Selig’s mass-tokenization call
Cointelegraph reported Selig’s September 22 Treasury Market Conference remarks; later reports described his call for 24/7 onchain markets.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by Crypto.News
CFTC chair says tokenization could reach all asset classes
- Official statement
CFTC updates tokenized-asset and blockchain-record FAQs
The staff update covered customer-fund investments in tokenized permitted assets and official blockchain recordkeeping.
- Official statement
Selig says update seeks regulatory clarity
He described the changes as part of the agency’s regulatory-clarity effort; Cointelegraph reported that he did not identify the failed CLARITY Act vote as their cause.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 23 Sept 2026, 10:06 UTC: Cointelegraph — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 23 Sept 2026, 12:05 UTC: Crypto.News — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 23 Sept 2026, 16:54 UTC: Blockchain.News — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 23 Sept 2026, 19:55 UTC: Bitcoin Magazine — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 24 Sept 2026, 03:48 UTC: CoinJournal — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 24 Sept 2026, 13:10 UTC: Crypto News Flash — 6 independent sources, 7 reports
- 24 Sept 2026, 15:14 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 7 independent sources, 8 reports
- 24 Sept 2026, 20:04 UTC: CoinDesk — 8 independent sources, 11 reports
- 24 Sept 2026, 20:30 UTC: Bitcoinist — 9 independent sources, 12 reports
- 25 Sept 2026, 10:22 UTC: Unchained — 10 independent sources, 15 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: BlackRock, U.S. Congress, Federal Reserve, Bitcoin, Paul Atkins, Donald Trump, OKX
Original sources
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