The Bank of England has launched a consultation on the use of tokenized collateral for central clearing

The Bank of England has launched a consultation on how central counterparties (CCPs) can accept digital forms of eligible collateral, stating that current rules allow for such arrangements provided that the relevant assets meet clearing standards. The draft regulatory statement released by the bank will clarify the matters that CCPs must specify when submitting applications under the existing approval process, covering collateral that has been accepted as well as types that meet the criteria under the proposed UK CCP rulebook but have not yet been used in practice. The Bank of England emphasized that this statement will not create new regulatory obligations.

The Bank of England pointed out that tokenized collateral must always be capable of being valued, transferred, and liquidated, including under stress scenarios; the improvement in cross-border transfer speed helps institutions meet margin calls in a timely manner. Sarah Breeden, the Deputy Governor responsible for financial stability, stated that this consultation reflects the bank's goal of promoting innovation in financial market infrastructure while maintaining financial stability, and is part of a broader agenda by regulators and the industry to promote the responsible application of tokenization in financial markets.

The consultation document will close for feedback on February 12, 2027, and the Bank of England plans to subsequently publish a policy response and related rules.