Cardano Foundation launches CIP-0113 token standard for compliance controls

Cardano token issuers now have a set of controls that would make a bank compliance officer smile. The Cardano Foundation announced on October 7, 2026, at TOKEN2049 that CIP-0113 is live on mainnet. The standard lets issuers build compliance rules directly into Cardano’s native tokens. That includes the ability to freeze assets, seize them and restrict who can receive them. What CIP-0113 actually does CIP-0113 lets issuers attach rules to their tokens covering KYC and AML checks, sanctions screening and transfer restrictions. Issuers can also freeze holdings or seize them outright. The key detail is where enforcement happens. These rules are not handled by an off-chain server or a company dashboard. The Cardano ledger validates them whenever a token is minted, burned or transferred. The upgrade also does not require a hard fork. Tokens stay native Cardano assets, operating under the chain’s eUTXO model, and the Foundation says execution costs remain predictable. A modular design built to change CIP-0113 is not one rigid rulebook. It uses a core standard paired with pluggable substandards that handle token-specific logic. Issuers can write their own custom modules or tweak existing o...