IMF Unveils New Framework for Tracking Cryptocurrency Transactions Globally

This framework, developed by over 160 countries, aims to close gaps in monitoring the flow of cryptocurrencies, which have often been poorly reported despite their growing scale.

Under these new regulations, Bitcoin will be classified as a non-financial asset, similar to land or natural resources, while stablecoins like Tether will be treated as financial instruments. Crypto services such as mining and staking will now fall under computer services exports.

Countries have begun adapting their own approaches to cryptocurrency governance. The U.S. has established a Bitcoin reserve obtained through legal seizures and has banned future sales of these assets. Meanwhile, El Salvador continues to hold Bitcoin as part of its national strategy, despite facing restrictions tied to an IMF deal.

These new regulations offer greater transparency, allowing governments to monitor digital assets as they would traditional financial transactions like land acquisitions. The crypto community’s response has been mixed—some see it as a sign of Bitcoin’s growing importance, while others caution against reading too much into the IMF’s move.

Though the guidelines don’t grant legal status to cryptocurrencies, they represent a key step in integrating digital assets into the global financial system, with countries that already embrace crypto set to benefit most.