CFTC Says U.S. Commodities Firms Can Invest in Tokenized Assets

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is moving guidance under which U.S. commodities firms may invest in tokenized assets and keep records on blockchain systems, according to a CoinDesk report dated Sept. 24, 2026. The regulator's position would give both practices a clearer place in ordinary commodities business rather than leaving them on the edge of accepted operations.

What firms may do

The guidance has two practical elements. Firms could invest in tokenized assets while also using blockchain records for relevant business activity. Together, the provisions connect tokenized holdings with the recordkeeping infrastructure that can support them.

This is not described as a mandate. The reported direction concerns what firms are permitted to do, not a requirement that they tokenize assets or replace existing books and records.

Scope remains limited

The available material does not identify specific tokenized assets, custody standards, eligibility tests or changes to trading venue rules. It also does not say that every blockchain-based product or ledger structure would receive automatic approval.

The report provides no basis for treating the guidance as blanket approval. Firms would still need to assess the assets, systems and controls involved before deploying either practice.

Market significance

For tokenization, the clearest effect is regulatory. Firms gain a stated basis for using tokenized assets and blockchain records in their operations, reducing uncertainty over whether those tools fit within accepted industry practice. The report does not quantify new investment, trading volume or liquidity.

The market reaction therefore cannot be measured from the guidance alone. It is positive for tokenization as an industry practice, but it is not evidence of demand for any particular token or a move in the price of a digital asset.

Regulatory direction

The word “further” suggests the CFTC is extending work already under way rather than introducing an isolated concession. Its reported preference is to treat tokenization and blockchain recordkeeping as regular elements of the industry. That direction could make adoption easier for firms evaluating both technologies, although the report does not set out implementation details.

Source: CoinDesk