What happened
Both houses of the Australian Parliament passed the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025. The new law requires cryptocurrency exchanges and tokenized custody platforms operating in Australia to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence and act efficiently, honestly, and fairly.
Why it matters here
This legislation integrates digital asset providers into Australia's mainstream financial regulatory structure for the first time. For local investors, the AFSL requirement adds consumer protections and operational standards, reducing exposure to unregulated platform failures while establishing clearer institutional guidelines.
What to watch
The Treasury's implementation timeline for licensing applications and ASIC's regulatory guidance for existing digital asset platforms transitioning to the new regime.
Source
coinmarketcap.com