Risk Weighting

Definition ∞ Risk weighting is a method used by financial regulators to assign a specific risk level to different assets held by banks. This process determines the amount of capital a bank must hold against its assets, with higher-risk assets requiring more capital to absorb potential losses. For digital assets, risk weighting methodologies are being developed to reflect their inherent volatility, operational risks, and market liquidity characteristics. The objective is to ensure that banks maintain sufficient financial buffers to protect against adverse price movements or other crypto-related exposures.
Context ∞ Risk weighting for digital assets is a prominent topic in financial and crypto news, particularly as global banking standards evolve to address crypto exposure. International bodies like the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision are actively working on frameworks for appropriately weighting different types of digital assets. The finalization of these standards will significantly impact how traditional financial institutions interact with and hold cryptocurrencies.