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Oceania

Australia

An early AML registrant for crypto exchanges that is now pulling platforms, stablecoins and tokenisation into full financial services law.

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Licences

What it takes to operate in Australia: 4 licences, who issues each, what it covers and who holds one.

Virtual asset service provider (VASP) registration

AUSTRAC · AML/CTF Act 2006, Part 6A (as amended by the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024)

Exchanging crypto for money or other crypto, safekeeping virtual assets, transferring them for customers, and services tied to token offers.

What it takes
  • Registration before providing any virtual asset service; operating unregistered is an offence
  • AML/CTF program, compliance officer, customer due diligence and staff training
  • Suspicious matter and threshold transaction reporting to AUSTRAC
  • Travel Rule data on virtual asset transfers under the AML/CTF Rules 2025
  • AUSTRAC can refuse, suspend, cancel or impose conditions on registration

Holders include

  • CoinSpot (Casey Block Services)
  • Swyftx
  • Independent Reserve
  • BTC Markets
  • CoinJar
  • Kraken (Bit Trade)
  • Coinbase Australia
  • Crypto.com (Foris DAX AU)
No public countRegister

Australian financial services licence (AFSL) for digital asset financial products

ASIC · Corporations Act 2001, Chapter 7 (as applied in INFO 225)

Dealing in, advising on, making a market in or holding tokens that are financial products, such as stablecoins, wrapped tokens, yield products and tokenised securities.

What it takes
  • Hold an AFSL or act as an authorised representative; the deadline to apply under ASIC's no-action position passed on 30 September 2026, and only firms that met its conditions remain covered
  • Financial requirements and responsible managers under RG 166 and RG 105
  • Custody standards for client assets, with omnibus accounts allowed under conditions since December 2025
  • Target market determinations under the design and distribution obligations
  • Internal dispute resolution and AFCA membership for retail clients
No public countRegister

AFSL authorisation to operate a digital asset platform or tokenised custody platform

ASIC · Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026

Holding digital tokens for clients on a platform, or issuing tokens that each represent a real-world asset held in custody.

What it takes
  • AFSL with a condition authorising the platform, from April 2027
  • Platform rules plus ASIC asset-holding and transactional and settlement standards
  • Financial requirements set by ASIC, similar to RG 166
  • Exemption for platforms under A$10m a year in transactions and A$5,000 per client, after notifying ASIC
  • Existing operators must apply within six months of commencement to keep operating while ASIC decides
No public count

AFSL for stablecoin issuers (non-cash payment facility), with stored-value facility licensing proposed

ASIC · Corporations Act 2001; draft payments licensing legislation (Treasury)

Issuing fiat-backed stablecoins, which ASIC treats as non-cash payment facilities, and distributing them through exchanges.

What it takes
  • AFSL authorising the issue of a non-cash payment facility, with a product disclosure statement for retail clients
  • Distributors of named or eligible stablecoins are exempt from separate AFS, market and clearing licences
  • Proposed: graduated stored-value facility regime with safeguarding of payment-related money
  • Proposed: APRA supervisory powers over major stored-value facility providers

Holders include

No public countRegister

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