Exchanges and custody platforms must obtain financial services licenses within six months under the new framework.
Assistant Governor Brad Jones said stablecoins and deposit tokens could play complementary roles as the RBA shifts to a 'how' approach.
Under the legislation, crypto platforms and tokenized custody platforms would be treated similarly to other financial service providers.
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee said the proposed legislation will modernize digital assets regulatory framework.
An OKX-backed report estimates tokenization and digital finance could generate A$24 billion annually, with productivity gains hinging on reforms to licensing, sandboxes and financial market rules.
Australian police have charged a 42-year-old man over his role in an alleged $3.5 million crypto scam targeting 190 elderly victims.
Australia’s Federal Court ordered BPS Financial to pay $14 million AUD after ASIC proved unlicensed and misleading conduct tied to Qoin Wallet.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has flagged digital assets and AI risks in its annual report.
The Australian government introduced digital assets legislation to modernize its financial system and safeguard consumers.
Australia's Treasury submitted a new bill to parliament on Wednesday, seeking to require financial licenses for certain crypto platforms.
The registration comes as Australian regulators tighten scrutiny on offshore crypto platforms, with ASIC stating that many digital assets may require licensing to operate.
BlackRock will list an iShares Bitcoin ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange in mid-November 2025, according to public filings and market reports. Related Reading: Bitcoin May Be This Week’s Big Story As Saylor Teases Fresh Buy The product will be a local wrapper around BlackRock’s US iShares Bitcoin Trust — a vehicle that launched in January 2024 and now manages about $85 billion. Based on reports, the new ASX ticker will charge a management fee of 0.39% per year. BlackRock Brings IBIT To ASX The move aims to give Australian investors an easier way to gain exposure to bitcoin through a familiar exchange-listed product. Reports have disclosed that investors who buy the ASX ETF will not hold bitcoin in a private wallet; they will have exposure through the ETF’s structure. That means price swings in bitcoin still apply. It also means custody and technical handling are managed by the fund rather than each investor. What Investors Should Know The fee of 0.39% is competitive when compared with many retail crypto services, but traders and long-term holders will want to check how closely the ETF tracks bitcoin’s price and what trading spreads look like on the ASX. According to filings, the ASX listing will use the US trust as the underlying asset, which raises questions about cross-market flows and the mechanics of how units are created and cancelled. Liquidity on the local exchange, and how market makers support the product, will shape how cheaply investors can enter and exit positions. Market Implications For Australia BlackRock’s entry could prompt other asset managers to list similar products in Australia. Based on reports, the launch follows a wave of spot bitcoin ETF approvals and listings in other markets since early 2024. For retail investors who avoided direct crypto custody, an ETF on the ASX removes some of the operational hurdles. But it does not remove market risk: bitcoin’s price can move sharply. Regulators in Australia have already been refining rules around crypto products, and the presence of a major global manager will put those rules under closer scrutiny. Competition And Risks Smaller providers offering bitcoin exposure through different structures may face tougher competition on fees and access. Reports have also highlighted potential downsides: an ETF wrapper can add a layer of cost and complexity, and investors may misunderstand the difference between owning the underlying asset and owning ETF units. Related Reading: ‘Good News’ Finally Arrives For SHIB Army As Team Unveils New Update Custody arrangements, insurance, and how the trust sources and stores bitcoin are items that advisers and sophisticated buyers will examine. According to market watchers, the timing — mid-November 2025 — matters. Investor appetite, bitcoin’s price action and broader market sentiment around that time will affect how much money flows into the new ETF. For many Australians, this will be a new, regulated route into bitcoin exposure. For the market, it is another step toward mainstream channels where big asset managers compete for crypto assets on familiar ground. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
AUSTRAC has fined Cryptolink 56,340 Australian dollars ($37,000) after identifying "weaknesses" in the company's AML/CTF compliance.
ASIC said many digital assets are covered by existing financial laws as it readies the ground for impending digital asset platform legislation.
Under new guidance, companies would need to obtain a license to offer products such as stablecoins and wrapped tokens.
AUSTRAC said that the majority of high-value crypto ATM transactions were directly associated with scams or moving money to high-risk jurisdictions.
Gemini's Australia arm is now registered with AUSTRAC.
Digital asset platforms (DAPs) and tokenized custody platforms (TCPs) will fall under the same bracket as other financial intermediaries.
The deal aims to strengthen IG’s position in the Asia-Pacific crypto market and complements its recent crypto rollouts in the U.K. and U.S., the firm said.
Australia's top watchdog will allow licensed issuers to distribute stablecoins without needing other financial approvals in a first for the country.
The exemptions mean intermediaries do not require a a separate Australian financial services license to distribute licensed stablecoins.
Binance Australia has 28 days to nominate external auditors for AUSTRAC's consideration.
Issuance of pilot wholesale CBDC for testing the use cases will take place on different blockchain platforms, such as Hedera and R3 Corda.
The funds will be used to increase DigitalX’s bitcoin treasury, bringing its total bitcoin and digital holdings to over 95 million australian dollar.
The CoinDesk 20 Index offers a weighted performance of the largest digital assets
A panel of three experienced finance figures, led by Rob Whitfield, will conduct the inquiry and recommend fixes for any weaknesses found.
Chainlink is set to play a major role as Hong Kong’s central bank takes a big step in its digital currency tests. Phase two of the e-HKD pilot will try moving tokenized Hong Kong dollars across borders. The plan is to swap e-HKD for A$DC, an Australian dollar stablecoin. This could cut settlement times from days to seconds. It may also show how central banks can work together with blockchain technology. Related Reading: Relentless Bitcoin Accumulation: Strategy Snaps Up 1,045 More BTC Hong Kong And Australia Test Digital Cash According to reports, the project will use Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, or CCIP, to handle transfers. The goal is simple. Move money in real time and make sure both sides get what they expect. Phase two kicks off with Hong Kong authorities and their counterparts in Australia. They will swap e-HKD for A$DC and aim for instant settlement. Based on reports, this setup could serve as a model for other central banks. We’re excited to share that Chainlink is facilitating the secure exchange of a Hong Kong CBDC and an Australian dollar stablecoin as part of an ongoing use case in Phase 2 of the e-HKD+ Pilot Program. Congratulations to participants @Visa, ANZ, China AMC, and Fidelity… pic.twitter.com/ts2C6Vt4Ul — Chainlink (@chainlink) June 9, 2025 Chainlink Tools In Use Chainlink is not just a name in the mix. It brings two big pieces of tech to the table. CCIP handles the cross-chain messages, acting like a bridge between different blockchains. The Digital Transfer Agent, or DTA, deals with compliance. It keeps track of who owns what token and makes sure rules in different countries are met. In May, World Liberty Financial tapped Chainlink for cross-chain stablecoin transfers covering USD1. That earlier deal hinted at what’s possible this time around. Big Names Join The Pilot Visa and ANZ are helping with payment processing for e-HKD and A$DC. Asset managers Fidelity International and ChinaAMC will also take part. Their job is to manage the tokenized funds on both sides. This mix of banks, asset managers and tech firms shows the project is more than a small test. It has real money and real risks involved. Reports disclosed that those risks are managed by a Payment-versus-Payment model. This means funds are only released when both sides confirm they have received the other asset. Related Reading: Elon Musk ‘Will Do Anything’ To Make XRP King, Tech Mogul Says Market Moves And Reactions LINK, the token for Chainlink, jumped by 6% after news of the pilot broke. It now trades at $14.70. That rise follows a wider market rally driven by hopes that Bitcoin may hit $110,000 before the week’s end. According to market data, crypto traders often chase big targets. Short-term gains can be tempting. But they can also lead to quick sell-offs if the main story fades. Despite the rally, Bitcoin still tracks the equity swings rather closely. There is a mix of bulls and bears in futures data that suggests some people are not yet convinced this run will last. High volatility can shake out weaker hands at the first sign of trouble. A sudden change in risk sentiment or a fresh macro shock can quickly reverse gains. Featured image from Imagen, chart from TradingView
Anti-money laundering regulator AUSTRAC obtained data showing that 72% of all crypto ATM transactions are carried out by people over the age of 50.
Investigations have been ongoing since ACX Exchange collapsed in 2019.
The High Court in March 2024 dismissed ASIC's allegations that Block Earner had engaged in unlicensed financial services by offering its DeFi product Access