Fed, FDIC and OCC clarify capital rules for tokenized securities

US banking regulators have issued new guidance clarifying how banks should treat tokenized securities under existing capital rules, reinforcing that digital representations of financial assets will generally be treated the same as their traditional counterparts.

In a joint announcement Thursday, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released answers to frequently asked questions aimed at reducing uncertainty around regulatory capital requirements for blockchain-based securities.

The agencies said an eligible tokenized security — a digital representation of a traditional financial instrument where ownership is recorded using distributed ledger technology — should typically receive the same capital treatment as the underlying non-tokenized asset.

A tokenized security is generally understood to be one where ownership rights are recorded and transferred through distributed ledger technology rather than traditional recordkeeping systems.

Regulators emphasized that the capital framework applied to banks is intended to remain neutral with respect to technology. As a result, the presence of blockchain infrastructure does not typically change how capital requirements are calculated.

The agencies stated that “the capital rule is technology neutral,” and indicated that the methods used to issue or transact in a security “do not generally impact its capital treatment.”

The clarification also addresses questions about the types of blockchain networks involved. According to the agencies, the capital rule does not distinguish between securities issued on permissioned blockchains and those operating on permissionless networks.

The guidance arrives as financial institutions continue exploring tokenization — the process of converting ownership of traditional assets such as bonds or funds into digital tokens that can be recorded and traded on blockchain systems.

For banks considering participation in these markets, regulators signaled that holding tokenized versions of securities will not require additional capital buffers solely because the asset exists on blockchain infrastructure.

At the same time, regulators cautioned that banks must maintain robust oversight and risk controls when engaging with tokenized assets.

“As with any exposure, banks holding tokenized securities must apply sound risk management practices and comply with applicable laws and regulations,” the guidance states.

While the FAQs do not introduce new capital rules, regulators said they are intended to address increasing questions from banks about how existing regulatory frameworks apply to digital asset technologies. As financial institutions expand experimentation with blockchain-based securities, established prudential standards will continue to govern these exposures.