WEF and BCG Unveil Regulatory Playbook for Digital Assets

Story

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) released a joint report on October 28, 2026, titled "Regulation of Digital Assets in a Shifting Global Landscape." This report presents a nine-part regulatory playbook for digital assets, based on a review of 35 jurisdictions and conversations with government and private sector leaders. The central argument of the report is that digital assets are no longer a side market but are evolving into essential infrastructure for the broader financial system. The rules governing them are therefore significant far beyond crypto exchanges. The playbook is structured into three broad areas: core market rules, integration with the existing financial system, and market safeguards. It calls for common regulatory standards across borders while simultaneously allowing space for national policy choices. Stablecoins and tokenization are particularly highlighted as areas that could drive the biggest regulatory changes. This suggests that firms building in these areas may face closer scrutiny but could also benefit from clearer and more consistent standards if jurisdictions adopt the proposed framework. Cross-border consistency is another key variable that could reduce regulatory fragmentation.