Regulation · Regime · Australia · Guidance · Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Australian financial services law for digital assets (Corporations Act, ASIC INFO 225 and the Digital Assets Framework Act)New
Australia regulates digital assets through its existing, technology-neutral financial services law. ASIC's updated Information Sheet 225 (October 2025) says stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities and digital asset wallets are among the products it treats as financial products, so their issuers and intermediaries generally need an Australian Financial Services Licence; Australian dollar stablecoin issuers such as AUDC, Macropod and Forte hold AFSLs to issue non-cash payment facilities. ASIC gave the sector a no-action period to apply for licences (extended to 30 September 2026) and class relief for distributors of eligible stablecoins and wrapped tokens. The Digital Assets Framework Act 2026 adds digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms as new regulated financial products from April 2027. Stablecoins are also due to move into a separate payments licensing regime (see au-payment-service-providers-reform).
In force
Key points
- ASIC considers stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities and digital asset wallets to be among the digital asset products that are financial products, so many providers need a financial services licence.[1]
- A digital asset such as a stablecoin can be a non-cash payment facility (or another financial product type) under the Corporations Act, so issuing it needs a licence authorisation.[2]
- Firms relying on ASIC's sector-wide no-action position had until 30 September 2026 to apply for or vary an AFSL (or give notice for a market or clearing and settlement licence); from 1 October 2026 unlicensed firms risk civil and criminal penalties.[3]
- From April 2027 operators of digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms need an AFSL and must meet asset-holding, transaction and settlement standards and financial requirements that ASIC is consulting on.[4]
- ASIC had recorded more than 140 applications from businesses seeking to provide digital asset-related financial services by October 2026.[4]
What it covers
StablecoinPaymentsSecondary tradingAsset servicing
Timeline
- 29 Oct 2025 · AmendedASIC updates INFO 225 on how existing law applies to digital assets and grants a sector-wide no-action position to 30 June 2026.[1]
- 8 Dec 2025 · In forceASIC class relief for distributors of eligible stablecoins and wrapped tokens takes effect (Instrument 2025/867).[5]
- 8 Apr 2026 · FinalCorporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 receives Royal Assent after passing Parliament on 1 April.[3]
- Jun 2026 · AmendedASIC clarifies its no-action position and extends the licence application deadline to 30 September 2026.[3]
- 30 Sep 2026 · Transition endsNo-action position ends for firms that have not applied for the licences they need.[3]
- 15 Oct 2026 · ConsultationASIC opens CP 392 on standards and guidance for the new digital asset platform and tokenised custody platform laws.[4]
- 27 Nov 2026 · Consultation · upcomingCP 392 consultation closes.[4]
- Apr 2027 · In force · upcomingDigital Assets Framework Act commences.[3]
Instruments
- ASIC CP 392: Digital asset law reform implementation: Proposed standards and guidanceConsultation paper · Consultation open
- ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin and Wrapped Token Relief) Instrument 2025/867Exemptive order · In force · 8 Dec 2025
- Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 (No. 38, 2026)Primary legislation · Final, not yet in force · Apr 2027
Deployments operating under it
| Deployment | Status | Assets | Use cases | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDD Australian dollar stablecoinNew AUDC Pty Ltd | Live (limited) | Reviewed 21d ago | ||
| AUDF Australian dollar stablecoin (Forte AUD)New Forte Securities Australia | Live (limited) | Reviewed 11d ago | ||
| AUDM Australian dollar stablecoin (Macropod)New Macropod Global | Live (limited) | Reviewed 21d ago |
Likely relevant to
| Deployment | Status | Assets | Use cases | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ A$DC Australian dollar stablecoinNew ANZ | Pilot | Reviewed 13d ago |
Sources
- [1]25-250MR Updated ASIC guidance supports digital asset innovation and boosts investor protection — Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 29 Oct 2025. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.A
- [2]Digital assets: Financial products and services — Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 30 Apr 2026. Accessed 18 Oct 2026. Information Sheet 225; page date is its latest update..A
- [3]Final call for firms to act before ASIC's digital asset licensing deadline — Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 2 Sep 2026. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.A
- [4]26-245MR ASIC consults on implementation of new digital asset laws — Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 15 Oct 2026. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.A
- [5]ASIC Corporations (Stablecoin and Wrapped Token Relief) Instrument 2025/867 — Federal Register of Legislation, 8 Dec 2025. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.A
- [6]Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 — Federal Register of Legislation, 8 Apr 2026. Accessed 18 Oct 2026.A