- Canada‘s investment regulator, CIRO, has introduced a stricter Digital Asset Custody Framework to mitigate risks like Hacking and fraud.
- The new rules are designed to allow for quicker responses to crypto failures, such as the infamous collapse of the QuadrigaCX exchange.
- The framework employs a tiered, risk-based structure aimed at balancing operational flexibility with strong investor protection measures.
In a major regulatory move, Canada’s top investment industry watchdog, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), has unveiled a new set of stringent digital asset custody rules. This framework, announced in response to past crypto failures, is intended to accelerate the country’s response to risks like hacking, fraud, and insolvency. A CIRO spokesperson stated the framework provides “a balance between flexibility and risk management, supporting innovation while ensuring strong investor protection.”
Consequently, the guidance directly addresses notorious incidents like the 2019 collapse of QuadrigaCX. That failure left approximately $123 million in customer funds unaccounted for and highlighted severe custody vulnerabilities. Alexandra Williams, CIRO’s senior vice president, emphasized that “Custody is one of the most critical points of risk in the crypto ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, the new rules feature a tiered, risk-based structure allowing firms to diversify their custody arrangements. CIRO will treat emerging cyber risks or repeated supervisory issues as early warning signs that expectations may need updating. The regulator aims to update the framework proactively, rather than waiting for another catastrophic failure to occur.
This action reflects Canada’s cautious regulatory stance, which brings crypto trading platforms under existing securities rules. More recent federal moves on stablecoins and an expanded role for the Bank of Canada suggest a gradual shift toward a broader national digital asset framework. As a self-regulatory body, CIRO possesses quasi-judicial authority to investigate misconduct and enforce disciplinary actions.
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