Digital assets and cryptocurrency are now formally part of Australia's basic financial regulatory framework.
The regulations between Treasury, AUSTRAC, and ASIC are now clear, and the timeframes are actual.
#🔍 What is going on?
According to ASIC, a number of cryptocurrency platforms and goods may already be considered financial products under current legislation, including but not limited to:
- Stablecoins
- Wrapped tokens and tokenized assets
- Custodial wallets
- Yield-style cryptocurrency items
- Platforms for cryptocurrency trading and brokerage
AFSL compliance becomes crucial once ASIC's temporary no-action transition period ends on June 30, 2026.
#AFSL consequences
Activities related to cryptocurrency increasingly correspond to:
- Non-cash payment methods
- Managed investment plans and securities
- Services for custody and depository
- Distributing and trading financial goods
Starting on March 31, 2026, AUSTRAC will extend its AML/CTF regulation beyond "digital currency exchanges" to include full Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), encompassing:
- Fiat-to-crypto exchange
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- Services for custody and wallets
- Transfers made on clients' behalf
- Support for token issuance and sales
Operating without an AUSTRAC VASP registration will be forbidden as of March 31, 2026.
#What comes next? Treasury's TCP and DAP framework
The government is launching:
DAPs, or digital asset platforms — cryptocurrency exchanges and middlemen.
Platforms for Tokenized Custody (TCPs) — regulated custody of digital assets
This indicates that cryptocurrency will be governed as financial market infrastructure rather than as experimental technology.
#Important dates
🗓 AUSTRAC AML/CTF expansion, March 31, 2026
🗓 ASIC no-action relief expires on June 30, 2026
#The bottom line
Function, possession, and control—not labels—now come before regulation.
Regulatory alignment is now required if your company deals with exchange, custody, settlement, issuance, or investment-style crypto services.
#At Equilex, we help fintech and cryptocurrency companies with:
- Mapping of AFSL licensing and authorization
- AML/CTF upgrade and AUSTRAC registration
- The regulatory structure of DAP and TCP
- Planning for the 2026 transition and compliance
To discuss your structure, contact us via contact@canadian-msb.com or WhatsApp +44 7350 387544.