The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a significant policy shift by integrating Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into its global balance of payments framework for the first time. The move, detailed in the seventh edition of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM7) published on March 20, 2025, reclassifies cryptocurrencies within international financial accounting standards. Bitcoin and similar decentralized digital assets are now categorized as non-produced non-financial assets, requiring cross-border transactions involving these tokens to be recorded as acquisitions or disposals of capital assets in national accounts.
Stablecoins, such as those pegged to fiat currencies, receive distinct treatment and are classified as financial instruments akin to traditional assets. The IMF specified that tokens like Ethereum and Solana could function as equity-like holdings if held across borders, with foreign investments in these assets documented as “equity crypto assets” mirroring standard equity positions. The framework also addresses emerging trends such as staking, recognizing rewards from unsold staked tokens as income similar to equity dividends.
This update signals a departure from the IMF’s historically cautious stance toward cryptocurrencies. While the organization previously warned against the risks of private digital currencies and advocated for stricter regulations, its latest guidance reflects an institutional acknowledgment of crypto’s expanding role in global finance. The shift aligns with efforts to adapt statistical standards to technological innovations while retaining oversight mechanisms. Analysts suggest the classification could influence how central banks and governments approach crypto taxation, monetary policy, and macroeconomic reporting.
The IMF emphasized the revision aims to enhance transparency in monitoring cross-border crypto flows, particularly for nations exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The standards will also apply to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are separately categorized under the new framework.
Sources:
https://en.bitcoinsistemi.com/international-monetary-fund-imf-announces-surprise-change-concerning-bitcoin-and-altcoins/
IMF updates global standards to include crypto in balance of payments
