🇦🇺 Crypto licence in Australia

The regime

Australian exchanges currently register with AUSTRAC as digital currency exchange (DCE) providers — an AML/CTF obligation, not a prudential licence. Treasury's draft legislation would bring platforms holding customer assets under AFSL-style licensing (Australian Financial Services Licence obligations: capital, custody, conduct).

Until that passes, Australia remains registration-only, with ASIC acting at the edges where products cross into financial-product territory (derivatives, yield offerings), and AML/CTF reforms extending obligations from 2026.

Requirements

• AUSTRAC DCE registration: enrolment, an AML/CTF programme, KYC, and suspicious-matter reporting.
• ASIC perimeter: an AFSL already required where the platform offers financial products (derivatives, some staking/yield structures).
• Drafted regime: digital asset platforms above size thresholds would need an AFSL with minimum capital and custody standards for customer assets.

Licensed firms

AUSTRAC-registered exchanges include:

• CoinSpot — registered DCE, among Australia's largest
• Swyftx — registered DCE
• Independent Reserve — registered DCE
• Coinbase Australia — registered DCE

Snapshot, not the register: verify current status against AUSTRAC DCE register before relying on it.

Does Australia license crypto exchanges today?

Not in the prudential sense — exchanges register with AUSTRAC for AML only. The Treasury draft would add real licensing (AFSL obligations) for platforms holding customer assets; until it passes, registration is the regime.

What is the difference between AUSTRAC registration and an AFSL?

AUSTRAC registration is an anti-money-laundering enrolment with reporting duties. An AFSL is a full financial-services licence with capital, competence, custody and conduct obligations — the model the draft platform regime extends to crypto.