diff --git a/packages/assets-controllers/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/assets-controllers/CHANGELOG.md
index a7cb1a9b91..5580dfa631 100644
--- a/packages/assets-controllers/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/assets-controllers/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ### Added
 - `TokenListController` now exports a `TokenListControllerMessenger` type ([#3609](https://github.com/MetaMask/core/pull/3609)).
 - `TokenDetectionController` exports types `TokenDetectionControllerMessenger`, `TokenDetectionControllerActions`, `TokenDetectionControllerGetStateAction`, `TokenDetectionControllerEvents`, `TokenDetectionControllerStateChangeEvent` ([#3609](https://github.com/MetaMask/core/pull/3609)).
+- Add `enable` and `disable` methods to `TokenDetectionController`, which control whether the controller is able to make polling requests or all of its network calls are blocked ([#3609](https://github.com/MetaMask/core/pull/3609)).
 
 ### Changed
 - **BREAKING:** `TokenDetectionController` is upgraded to extend `BaseControllerV2` and `StaticIntervalPollingController` ([#3609](https://github.com/MetaMask/core/pull/3609)).
-  - The constructor now expects an options object as its only argument, with required properties `messenger`, `networkClientId`, required callbacks `onPreferencesStateChange`, `getBalancesInSingleCall`, `getPreferencesState`, and optional properties `interval`, `selectedAddress`. Note that the `config` object is no longer used by the constructor.
-  - Polling can only be initiated by calling `start` or `startPollingByNetworkClientId` from a controller client. There is no longer an option to automatically start polling when the controller is instantiated.
+  - The constructor now expects an options object as its only argument, with required properties `messenger`, `networkClientId`, required callbacks `onPreferencesStateChange`, `getBalancesInSingleCall`, `addDetectedTokens`, `getTokenState`, `getPreferencesState`, and optional properties `disabled`, `interval`, `selectedAddress`. Note that the `config` object is no longer used by the constructor.
 
 ## [22.0.0]
 ### Changed
diff --git a/packages/assets-controllers/src/TokenDetectionController.ts b/packages/assets-controllers/src/TokenDetectionController.ts
index e17f9b7fb2..19c4d90871 100644
--- a/packages/assets-controllers/src/TokenDetectionController.ts
+++ b/packages/assets-controllers/src/TokenDetectionController.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ export class TokenDetectionController extends StaticIntervalPollingController<
     networkClientId,
     selectedAddress = '',
     interval = DEFAULT_INTERVAL,
-    disabled = false,
+    disabled = true,
     onPreferencesStateChange,
     getBalancesInSingleCall,
     addDetectedTokens,
@@ -212,11 +212,25 @@ export class TokenDetectionController extends StaticIntervalPollingController<
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Allows controller to make active and passive polling requests
+   */
+  enable() {
+    this.#disabled = false;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Blocks controller from making network calls
+   */
+  disable() {
+    this.#disabled = true;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Start polling for detected tokens.
    */
   async start() {
-    this.#disabled = false;
+    this.enable();
     await this.#startPolling();
   }
 
@@ -224,7 +238,7 @@ export class TokenDetectionController extends StaticIntervalPollingController<
    * Stop polling for detected tokens.
    */
   stop() {
-    this.#disabled = true;
+    this.disable();
     this.#stopPolling();
   }