Cardano Activates CIP-0113 Programmable Tokens for Compliant Stablecoins and Funds

Cardano’s CIP-0113 programmable-token standard went live on mainnet on October 7, 2026, after development work and multiple independent security audits, according to the Cardano Foundation.

Designed for issuers of stablecoins, tokenized funds, bonds and other regulated assets, CIP-0113 puts compliance conditions and transfer rules directly on native Cardano assets without creating a separate token system; instead, it uses Cardano’s existing native-asset infrastructure.

CIP-0113 brings ledger-enforced compliance to Cardano assets

Under CIP-0113, token rules can include KYC, AML, sanctions screening, freezes, seizure or confiscation, and transfer restrictions. The Cardano ledger enforces those rules during transfers, minting and burning, the Cardano Foundation said in its launch announcement.

Stablecoins, tokenized funds and bonds are among the regulated asset classes for which those controls may matter. The rules can govern who receives or holds a token and can restrict an asset under specified conditions.

The controls operate at the transaction level rather than relying solely on an off-chain process or separate token-management system.

TokenPost separately reported the mainnet launch and described the supported controls as including KYC, AML, sanctions screening, freezes, confiscations and transfer restrictions for stablecoins, tokenized funds and bonds.

How ownership changes under the EUTXO model

CIP-0113 makes ownership changes conditional on successful script execution, using existing Cardano primitives such as native tokens, stake credentials and the withdraw-zero pattern, according to the specification. Rules attached to an asset can be checked when a transaction moves it, supporting transfer restrictions and controls over issuance and burning.

Cardano said the tokens remain native assets in the EUTXO model: the underlying asset format is preserved, with script execution added to ownership changes. The compliance logic therefore sits alongside the established Cardano asset and transaction model rather than in a separate blockchain, a new token type outside the native-asset framework or an architecture requiring a network split.

CIP-0113 did not require a hard fork, and existing Cardano infrastructure can handle the tokens. That includes wallets, block explorers and applications, according to a Cardano announcement.

Cardano Foundation banner for the CIP-0113 programmable token mainnet launch — Source: Cardano Foundation

Native-asset compatibility and early ecosystem support

Cardano said CIP-0113 did not require a hard fork. Because the tokens remain native Cardano assets, wallets, block explorers and applications can handle them through existing Cardano infrastructure, according to a Cardano announcement.

The Cardano Foundation named Eternl, GeroWallet, CardanoScan and BloxBean as ecosystem-support projects accompanying the launch. The launch also received recognition from the Swiss Capital Markets and Technology Association, which the Foundation said recognizes CIP-0113 programmable asset tokens as a smart-contract equivalent to CMTAT for its certification scheme.

The activation gives issuers a route to apply compliance-oriented rules while retaining Cardano’s native-asset model and avoiding a hard fork.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.