IMF revises balance of payments guide to support digital assets, classifies bitcoin as a capital asset to standardize reporting of crypto activities, allowing more accurate tracking of cross-border digital currencies
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has updated its Balance of Payments Manual, which was released on March 20, to accommodate the growing role of digital assets. The new manual, called BPM7, categorizes cryptocurrencies and digital token assets into the global economic reporting system.
The latest IMF report was released on March 20, 2025.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency classification
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in the same category are classified as “non-produced non-financial assets,” meaning they are assets that have value but are not produced by a production process and do not have a financial obligation to others.
These assets are not burdened by debt and are classified as capital assets, with some crypto analysts saying the change will allow for more accurate tracking of cross-border digital currency movements.
The difference between tokens and financial instruments
The IMF’s guide divides tokens into two categories:
- Fungible tokens, or tokens that can be replaced like banknotes
- Nonfungible tokens, or tokens that have unique characteristics and cannot be replaced
In this regard, digital currencies without debt, such as Bitcoin, are classified as non-produced assets, while stablecoins that have debt are classified as financial instruments.
In addition, holding tokens linked to platforms, such as Ethereum or Solana, can be viewed as similar to holding foreign equity investments, especially when the holder is located in a different country from where the platform is located.
Awareness of digital currency related services
The IMF has defined staking and mining as services, with mining and staking being recorded as computer service exports or imports. Furthermore, staking returns may be classified as income, depending on the nature of the holding.
The BPM7 Guidelines are the result of consultations with more than 160 countries and are expected to guide international financial statistics for many years to come. However, each country will decide how to apply these standards.
The IMF aims to increase transparency about the flow of digital assets and their impact on the economy as a whole. The updated Guidelines create a common framework for integrating digital currency activities into national accounting systems worldwide.
Reference : CoinMarketCap
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