ISO 24165-1:2021

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 24165-1
First edition
2021-09
Digital token identifier (DTI) —
Registration, assignment and
structure —
Part 1:
Method for registration and
assignment
PROOF/ÉPREUVE
Reference number
ISO 24165-1:2021(E)
©
ISO 2021

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ISO 24165-1:2021(E)

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ISO 24165-1:2021(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Eligibility criteria for application . 3
4.1 Applicant eligibility requirements . 3
4.2 Digital token eligibility requirement . 3
4.3 Preliminary issuance provision . 4
5 Application information . 4
5.1 General . 4
5.2 Applicant information. 4
5.3 Digital token technical information . 4
5.4 Descriptive information . 4
6 Digital token identifier code structure. 4
6.1 Constituents. 4
6.2 Uniqueness . 4
6.3 Display . 5
7 Registry components . 5
8 Assignment . 5
9 R egistration authority . 5
9.1 Name and contact details of the Registration authority . 5
9.2 Service pr ovision for the RA . 5
Annex A (normative) Check character calculation . 6
Bibliography . 9
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ISO 24165-1:2021(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 68, Financial services, Subcommittee SC 8,
Reference data for financial services.
A list of all parts in the ISO 24165 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
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ISO 24165-1:2021(E)

Introduction
With the rise in popularity of peer-to-peer payment systems, relying less on centralized authorities
and instead on aspects of cryptography, decentralized processing and a distributed network for the
maintenance of a shared record of transaction activity, the need to identify the digital tokens issued,
traded, transacted or stored on these networks has grown. Stakeholders in the trading community,
service providers, custodians and regulatory bodies have identified numerous use cases where a
standard identifier for accounting, research, tracking and management of these digital tokens would
improve efficiency and eliminate confusion in the marketplace.
However, the nature of these new types of digital asset means they do not fit within the structure of
existing ISO identifiers, in part because they possibly lack clear reference to an issuing authority and
will therefore not be considered the liability of an issuing authority or corporate governing body. These
digital assets, in many cases, are cross geographic and monetary governance jurisdictions.
Though these digital assets are sometimes referred to as cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies or
digital currencies, the term ‘currency’ has a specific meaning as defined by ISO 4217. This definition
is in conflict with the nature of the digital tokens identified within this document due to the reasons
described above; namely, the lack of monetary authority and geographic location.
Where traditional financial instruments or currencies are tokenized for electronic exchange and issued
by a legal entity or a monetary authority responsible for it, other International Standards, such as
ISO 6166 or ISO 4217, can apply. To eliminate confusion for users of this document, care has been taken
to provide a clear definition and eligibility criteria for assignment of a digital token identifier (DTI).
This document is addressed to applicants seeking to identify digital tokens conforming to the definition
provided in this document. The data elements used to distinguish one set of digital tokens from
another, are, wherever possible, objective and publicly available. This document only covers fungible
tokens. When mentioning “token” singular, this document refers to all tokens with the same attributes
and identifiers; for example, a specific ISIN identifies the issuance of a financial instrument, such as
IBM, and refers to all the IBM shares. Inclusion in the registry and the issuance of an identifier signifies,
therefore, only the existence of the token and its 1:1 relationship to its identifier.
The ISO 24165 series is organized into the following parts:
— ISO 24165-1 describes the method of registration and assignment of a DTI.
— ISO 24165-2 describes the data elements required for registration and display on the DTI registry.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 24165-1:2021(E)
Digital token identifier (DTI) — Registration, assignment
and structure —
Part 1:
Method for registration and assignment
1 Scope
This document defines the assignment and generation of a random, unique, fixed-length identifier for
digital tokens in response to a request for registration that conforms to specified application guidelines
(see also ISO 24165-2).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 24165-2, Data elements for registration and display on the DTI registry
ISO/IEC 7064:2003, Information technology — Security techniques — Check character systems
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
asset
anything that has value to a stakeholder
[SOURCE: ISO/TS 17573-2:2020, 3.9]
3.2
block
data structure comprising a block header (3.5) and block data (3.4)
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this document, the division of data elements in a block between block header
and block data is illustrative. Other methods of organizing the data elements typically contained in block header
and block data may be utilized.
[SOURCE: ISO 22739:2020, 3.2, modified — Note 1 to entry added.]
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ISO 24165-1:2021(E)
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