{ "jurisdiction_id": "AU", "jurisdiction": "Australia", "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/", "generator": "render_jid v13.3.0", "date_modified": "2026-08-17", "schema_version": "crypto-v2.0.0", "counts": { "modules": 7, "sourced_findings": 29, "source_register": 25 }, "modules": [ { "code": "crypto_licensing", "name": "Crypto Licensing", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#crypto-licensing-crypto-licensing", "standing_position": "Australia is mid-transition from a 'financial product by function' regime administered under existing Corporations Act licensing (AFSL) to a bespoke statutory framework. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 (DAF Act) passed Parliament 1 April 2026 and received Royal Assent 8 April 2026, creating two new regulated categories — Digital Asset Platforms (DAPs) and Tokenised Custody Platforms (TCPs) — both requiring an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) from ASIC, but the Act does not commence until 9 April 2027 (an 18-month implementation runway). In the interim, ASIC has extended a sector-wide no-action position (originally to 30 June 2026, now to 30 September 2026) under updated INFO 225 guidance, requiring firms to lodge AFSL applications (or notify ASIC of intent for Market/CS facility licences) by that date to avoid enforcement exposure for operating without a required existing licence.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "token_classification", "name": "Token Classification", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#token-classification-token-classification", "standing_position": "ASIC applies a functional, technology-neutral test under the Corporations Act 2001 rather than bespoke crypto categories: whether a digital asset is a 'financial product' turns on its substantive features. Updated INFO 225 (2025/2026) explicitly treats many stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities and digital asset wallets as financial products, while noting that classification of DeFi arrangements and many utility-style tokens depends on individual facts and is not addressed definitively by the guidance.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "on_chain_activity_regime", "name": "On-Chain Activity Regime", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#on-chain-activity-regime-on-chain-activity-regime", "standing_position": "ASIC's INFO 225 distinguishes native proof-of-stake staking from 'staking-as-a-service' / managed staking arrangements, with the latter more likely to constitute a financial product, and the Reserve Bank of Australia's Project Acacia has facilitated regulatory relief for wholesale tokenisation testing. DeFi lending/borrowing classification remains fact-dependent and unaddressed definitively by the regulator. No dedicated Australian regime specifically targets crypto mining, standalone node operation, validator services, or DEX operation as distinct categories; these are assessed, if at all, under the same functional financial-product test.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "stablecoin_regime", "name": "Stablecoin Regime", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#stablecoin-regime-stablecoin-regime", "standing_position": "Stablecoins are currently regulated in Australia indirectly through ASIC's financial-product classification (typically as a non-cash payment facility), requiring issuers to hold an AFSL, with class relief granted to secondary distributors of stablecoins issued by an AFSL-licensed issuer. A dedicated statutory framework for 'payment stablecoins' is still at the proposal stage: Treasury's Payments System Modernisation (Regulation of Payment Service Providers) Tranche 1a is draft legislation only and has not been enacted — CAUTION: treat reserve/redemption obligations under that reform as proposed, not settled law.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "consumer_protection", "name": "Consumer Protection", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#consumer-protection-consumer-protection", "standing_position": "Consumer protection for crypto in Australia currently rests on general Corporations Act / ASIC Act misleading-conduct prohibitions (RG 234, updated June 2026), influencer-specific guidance (INFO 269), and ASIC's consumer-facing Moneysmart warnings, which highlight elevated Gen Z exposure to crypto 'finfluencer' marketing. The DAF Act (not yet in force) will add statutory custody-segregation, standardized disclosure and dispute-resolution/compensation requirements specific to digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms once it commences in April 2027.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "tax_treatment", "name": "Tax Treatment", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#tax-treatment-tax-treatment", "standing_position": "The Australian Taxation Office treats cryptocurrency as property/a CGT asset rather than money or foreign currency, requiring capital gains/losses to be reported on disposal, with data-matching programs compelling exchanges to supply customer transaction data. A 2026-reported Budget proposal to replace the 50% CGT discount with an inflation-indexed model (which would affect crypto held over one year) had not been legislated as of the reported date — CAUTION: treat as a media-reported proposal, not enacted law.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] }, { "code": "cross_border_transfer", "name": "Cross-Border Transfer", "confidence": null, "moved_this_cycle": false, "url": "https://cryptoassets.gi/jurisdictions/australia/#cross-border-transfer-cross-border-transfer", "standing_position": "Cross-border crypto activity in Australia is governed principally through AUSTRAC's registration and reporting regime for digital currency exchanges under the AML/CTF Act 2006, rather than a crypto-specific cross-border capital control. There is no blanket outbound restriction on Australians transacting with offshore crypto exchanges, though AUSTRAC has proposed (not yet enacted) new powers to restrict or prohibit high-risk products such as crypto ATMs, citing their use in cross-border money laundering. CAUTION: treat the proposed AUSTRAC product-restriction power as pending, not in force.", "findings": [ { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null }, { "finding": null, "instrument_type": null, "source": null, "source_url": null, "source_tier": null, "retrieved_at": null } ] } ] }