Australia
AustraliaAn early AML registrant for crypto exchanges that is now pulling platforms, stablecoins and tokenisation into full financial services law.
Key Regulatory Progress
Every law, rule and official guide on crypto in Australia: 5 apply today, and the rest show what's coming and how regulators read the rules. Each is explained in plain words and linked to the official original.
Last checked against the originals on 5 Oct 2026.
Core framework
The primary statutes that define crypto assets and who may deal in them.
- EnactedPassed, not yet in force
Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026
Assented to on 8 April 2026. The whole Act commences the day after the 12 months from assent: 8 April 2027 under its commencement table and on the Register (ASIC's announcements say 9 April 2027). It makes digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms financial products that need an AFSL, with a small-platform exemption and a six-month transition to apply.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
New digital asset laws to unlock innovation and safeguard investment
Announces introduction of the Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025. Explains the AFSL obligations for platforms and the exemption for platforms holding under A$5,000 per customer and A$10 million in yearly transactions.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Developing an innovative Australian digital asset industry
Government policy statement setting four pillars: a digital asset platform framework, payment stablecoin rules under payments licensing, a sandbox review and tokenisation initiatives.
Read the original
Exchanges & custody
Licensing, conduct and custody rules for trading platforms and service providers.
- GuidanceNot binding law
Final call for firms to act before ASIC's digital asset licensing deadline
Warned that firms without a licence application by 30 September 2026, when the no-action relief ended, risk penalties of up to 10% of turnover from 1 October. ASIC had recorded over 45 applications since October 2025.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Virtual asset service provider register goes public
AUSTRAC published its VASP register so the public can check whether a crypto business is registered, and listed the services that require registration.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
ASIC extends no-action position for digital asset businesses to 30 September 2026
Gives digital asset firms three more months to apply for or vary an AFSL, and extends relief to firms using authorised representative arrangements. About 30 applications had been received.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
ASIC's roadmap for digital assets law reform implementation
Sets ASIC's 18-month plan to implement the new Act: a regulatory guide for platforms, asset-holding and settlement standards, financial requirements, then licence applications.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Information Sheet 225 (INFO 225): Digital assets: Financial products and services
ASIC's main guidance on when digital assets are financial products, with 18 worked examples covering stablecoins, wrapped tokens, staking and tokenised assets. Updated October 2025, with minor edits in April 2026.
Read the original
Stablecoins & payments
Issuance, reserve and redemption rules for fiat-referenced tokens and payment tokens.
- In forceApplies today
ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin and Wrapped Token Relief) Instrument 2025/867
Made on 5 December 2025 and in force from 8 December 2025 until 1 January 2029. Extends class relief to distributors of eligible stablecoins and wrapped tokens whose issuers hold, or have applied for, an AFSL.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin Distribution Exemption) Instrument 2025/631
Made on 17 September 2025 and in force from 19 September 2025 until 1 June 2028. Exempts intermediaries distributing named stablecoins from separate AFS, market and clearing licences; named coins are Catena Digital's AUDM and, since October 2025, Forte Securities' AUDF.
Read the original - ConsultationDraft out for comment
Payments licensing reforms
Tracks the draft payment service provider law: AFSLs for payment functions, safeguarding of client money and APRA powers over major stored-value facility providers. The full Tranche 1 draft was released on 12 March 2026 for consultation that closed on 9 April 2026; no bill has been introduced yet.
Read the original - SupersededReplaced
New legislation to modernise the regulation of payment service providers
Released the Tranche 1a exposure draft for a graduated stored-value facility regime, expressly including stablecoin issuers and wallets that hold customer funds. Superseded by the full Tranche 1 draft of March 2026.
Read the original
Tokenisation & securities
Security tokens, RWA, funds and ETFs.
- GuidanceNot binding law
Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief (25-129MR)
Selects 24 tokenised asset use cases (19 live pilots) across bonds, private markets and carbon credits, with ASIC relief so participants could trade real assets.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
REP 705 Response to submissions on CP 343 Crypto-assets as underlying assets for ETPs and other investment products
Sets ASIC's expectations for crypto-asset ETPs and funds, including custody, pricing and which crypto assets are suitable underlying assets. This paved the way for listed crypto ETFs.
Read the original
AML & travel rule
Anti-money-laundering obligations and the FATF travel rule.
- In forceApplies today
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025
Made on 29 August 2025, with the virtual asset provisions in force from 31 March 2026 (as amended by 2026 amending rules). Sets VASP registration requirements, enhanced due diligence for certain virtual asset services and Travel Rule data for crypto transfers.
Read the original - In forceApplies today
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024
Assented to on 10 December 2024. Schedule 6, in force from 31 March 2026, replaces digital currency exchange rules with a broader virtual asset service provider regime.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
AUSTRAC removes 45 businesses as scrutiny intensifies on high-risk payments
AUSTRAC cancelled, suspended or refused to renew 45 remittance and virtual asset service provider registrations over the past year, including GetCoins, a crypto business allegedly exploited by investment scams.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
AUSTRAC orders Cryptolink's crypto ATMs offline
AUSTRAC suspended Cryptolink's VASP registration for three months, shutting its 96 crypto ATMs after reporting failures that followed a 2025 enforceable undertaking.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
AUSTRAC steps up supervision of virtual assets sector as reforms take effect
Announces supervisory campaigns into 36 over-the-counter crypto businesses and 27 local exchanges as the VASP reforms bed in.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Virtual asset service providers overview
Explains which crypto services make a business a VASP and states that providing them without AUSTRAC registration is illegal.
Read the original
Tax
How gains, income and transactions are taxed.
- In forceApplies today
Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Act 2023, Schedule 2
Excludes digital currencies such as bitcoin from foreign currency tax rules, backdated to 1 July 2021, so crypto held as an investment stays under capital gains tax.
Read the original - EnactedPassed, not yet in force
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026
Assented to on 26 June 2026. For CGT events from 1 July 2027 it ends the 50% capital gains discount for individuals and trusts, replacing it with cost base indexation for gains accruing from that date (assets held then are deemed sold and reacquired, so earlier gains keep the discount), and adds a 30% minimum tax on resident individuals' capital gains. This will apply to crypto held as an investment.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Crypto asset investments
ATO guidance hub (last updated 22 June 2026) on capital gains tax for crypto disposals, the personal use asset exemption, DeFi and wrapping, chain splits and record keeping.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Government response to the Board of Taxation's Review of the tax treatment of digital assets and transactions in Australia
Accepts the Board's finding that existing tax law can handle digital assets, with the ATO to fill gaps through a crypto working group and new guidance.
Read the original
Investor protection
Market abuse, disclosure, advertising and retail safeguards.
- GuidanceNot binding law
ASIC successful in High Court Block Earner appeal (26-124MR)
The High Court ruled 7-0 that Block Earner's fixed-yield Earner product was a financial product and a derivative, confirming that the financial product definition is broad and technology neutral.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Binance Australia Derivatives ordered to pay $10 million penalty (26-055MR)
Oztures Trading misclassified 524 retail investors as wholesale clients, exposing them to crypto derivatives without retail protections.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
BPS Financial to pay $14 million in penalties over crypto Qoin wallet (26-008MR)
The Federal Court ordered A$2 million for unlicensed conduct and A$12 million for misleading claims about the Qoin Wallet, a non-cash payment facility.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Kraken crypto exchange operator to pay $8 million following ASIC enforcement action (24-274MR)
Bit Trade offered a margin extension credit product to over 1,100 customers without a target market determination. It was ASIC's first penalty for breaching design and distribution obligations.
Read the original
Banks & prudential
What banks may hold, custody or issue.
- GuidanceNot binding law
Crypto-assets: Risk management expectations and policy roadmap
Sets APRA's expectations for banks, insurers and super funds engaging with crypto-assets, and a roadmap toward Basel-aligned prudential rules.
Read the original
CBDC & tokenised money
Central-bank digital currency and tokenised deposit programmes.
- ConsultationDraft out for comment
The Role of RITS in Supporting Settlement in a Tokenised Ecosystem
Consults on how the RBA's settlement system could support tokenised assets, including stablecoin issuer access to central bank reserves and tokenised reserves. Submissions close 30 October 2026.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
Retail Central Bank Digital Currency in the Australian Context: An Update
Reaffirms that there is currently no clear public interest case for a retail CBDC in Australia, after public focus groups found little demand.
Read the original - GuidanceNot binding law
RBA and DFCRC Release Findings From Project Acacia
Reports on 20 wholesale tokenised asset use cases settled with ESA balances, pilot wholesale CBDC, deposit tokens and stablecoins. Sets next steps including a digital market infrastructure sandbox.
Read the original
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