The U.S. federal regulator (FDIC) is developing guidance on how to apply deposit insurance to digital representations of bank liabilities. The FDIC, according to remarks by Acting Chair Travis Hill, considers that a digitized deposit “remains a deposit” and is seeking to set technical and supervisory requirements to maintain federal coverage of up to $250,000 per depositor.
Tokenized deposits are, in essence, traditional bank liabilities recorded on distributed ledger technology (DLT) that represent a direct claim on funds at an insured bank. This definition is central to the regulator’s assessment, which seeks to preserve the legal treatment and eligibility for deposit insurance.
According to remarks at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Fintech Conference in November 2025, the FDIC is drafting guidance that will specify technical requirements for auditability, holder registries and interoperability. The initiative aims to preserve the longstanding protections of the banking system while adopting technical benefits such as near-real-time settlement and “programmable money”.
This measure could redefine competition with stablecoins and accelerate institutional adoption.
Context and implications por FDIC
The regulator emphasizes that, to receive insurance, the token must represent an unconditional obligation of an insured institution and allow a clear legal claim by the depositor. This stance reinforces the regulatory distinction from stablecoins, whose evolving framework was marked by the GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, and which generally do not enjoy FDIC coverage.
“My longstanding belief is that a deposit is fundamentally a deposit,” said Acting Chair Travis Hill.
The FDIC is moving toward guidance that seeks to reconcile innovation and safety; as Travis Hill stated, “My long-held belief is that a deposit is fundamentally a deposit.” The next milestone will be the publication of formal guidance with the necessary registration, audit, and resolution tests for institutions to offer tokenized deposits with federal coverage, marking a clearer path to adoption for banking and corporate treasury.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
