IMF Includes Bitcoin in Global Economic Statistics

According to PANews, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has incorporated Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into the international balance of payments statistics in its latest Balance of Payments Manual, Seventh Edition (BPM7). Released on March 20, 2025, this update marks the first time the IMF has provided detailed guidance on digital assets within its global statistical standards. The framework categorizes digital assets into fungible and non-fungible tokens, further distinguishing them based on whether they have corresponding liabilities. Bitcoin and similar tokens without liabilities are classified as capital assets, while stablecoins backed by liabilities are considered financial instruments. The IMF states that crypto assets without corresponding liabilities, such as Bitcoin, are intended to function as mediums of exchange and are classified as non-productive, non-financial assets, recorded separately in the capital account.