The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has officially released its final disclosure framework for banks’ crypto exposure and made targeted changes to crypto asset standards to “tighten the criteria for certain stablecoins to receive preferential regulatory treatment.”
The intention is for both standards to come into force on January 1, 2026. The Committee, part of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), has been working on the framework for over a year.
The updates, published on July 17, aim to increase transparency and ensure a consistent regulatory approach in the fast-growing field of digital assets.
According to the committee:
“The final disclosure framework and changes to the crypto asset standard represent important steps toward increasing the robustness of banks’ involvement in the crypto asset market.”
Disclosure Standards
The new disclosure framework, known as DIS55, requires banks to provide detailed information about their crypto activities through standardized tables and templates.
Banks are mandated to provide detailed information on their cryptocurrency activities, including both qualitative descriptions of their crypto-related activities and quantitative data on capital and liquidity requirements. By standardizing these disclosures, the Committee aims to improve market discipline and reduce the information gap between market participants.
The committee said:
“These measures will contribute to greater market transparency and stability, and support the broader financial system.”
The framework also requires lenders to share how they assess risks and classify these assets. They must also provide data on their exposure to cryptocurrencies and related capital requirements, including information on the accounting classification and liquidity needs for these assets.
Stable coins and ‘materiality’
The updated standards include a new definition of ‘materiality’ for certain crypto assets and set thresholds for when banks must disclose their exposures.
Banks must also report the average daily values of their crypto holdings to provide a more accurate picture of their risk levels. Despite industry feedback, the Committee continues to believe that banks should separately report credit and market risks for tokenized assets.
In addition to the disclosure framework, the Commission has revised its prudential standard for crypto assets. The changes aim to tighten the criteria under which certain stablecoins can receive preferential “Group 1b” regulatory treatment. These changes are intended to clarify the regulatory framework and promote a consistent understanding of the standards across jurisdictions.
The Basel Committee also made other technical changes, such as removing certain detailed requirements and clarifying the scope of disclosure.
The Committee emphasized its continued commitment to monitoring developments in cryptocurrency markets and adapting its regulatory framework as necessary to address emerging risks.
