Australia is mid-transition: the Digital Assets Framework passed 1 April 2026 and received Royal Assent 8 April 2026, and will require digital-asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms to hold an AFSL from ASIC once it commences on 9 April 2027.
Licensing authority: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Key facts
- Digital Assets Framework Bill passed: 1 April 2026
- Royal Assent: 8 April 2026
- Commencement date: 9 April 2027 (18-month implementation)
- Regulated categories created: Digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms, both requiring an AFSL from ASIC
- AFSL requirements: Client-asset safeguards, standardised disclosure, no misleading conduct, dispute resolution/compensation
- INFO 225 class no-action position expiry: June 2026
- Conditions to rely on the INFO 225 transition: Business operated in Australia on or before 31 December 2025 AND lodges a complete AFSL application by 30 June 2026
- Small-platform exemption threshold: Under $5,000 held per customer AND under $10m in annual transactions
Regulatory timeline
- — Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 passed.
- — Digital Assets Framework Act received Royal Assent.
- — Deadline to lodge a complete AFSL application to rely on the INFO 225 transition.
- — Digital Assets Framework Act commences; AFSL requirement takes effect for digital asset and tokenised custody platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto legal in Australia?
Yes. Australia is in a tightening transition: the Digital Assets Framework passed 1 April 2026 and received Royal Assent 8 April 2026, and will require digital-asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms to hold an AFSL from ASIC once it commences on 9 April 2027.
Is there a regulatory gap before the new framework commences?
No confirmed gap — ASIC's INFO 225 class no-action position expires June 2026, but a business that operated in Australia on or before 31 December 2025 and lodges a complete AFSL application by 30 June 2026 can rely on the transition through to the DAF Act's 9 April 2027 commencement.
Are small platforms exempt?
A small-platform exemption applies to platforms holding under $5,000 per customer AND processing under $10m in annual transactions.
Can Exchange Atlas run monetised exchange listings for Australia yet?
Not yet. Advertising must not be misleading and is increasingly licence-gated, so we treat Australia as restricted (cautious) and show no monetised listings until an exchange's AFSL status is confirmed.