Server-rendered tracker page for custody regulation in Australia. This page is built for Google and LLM crawlers: every event below links to a permanent policy-event URL with source data and APAC FINSTAB analysis.
Jurisdiction: Australia. Regulator: ASIC / AUSTRAC. Topic: Custody. Latest event: May 4, 2026 — Australia ASIC Approves Crypto Custody Framework for Regulated Custodians.
Use this page to compare rule changes, licensing signals, enforcement posture, and market-access implications for exchanges, stablecoin issuers, protocols, custodians and institutional teams operating across APAC.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission approved definitive custody framework for regulated digital asset custodians under the Digital Assets Framework Bill. Licensed custodians must implement cold storage requirements, insurance coverage of 100% of customer assets, and quarterly third-party audits.
Australia has passed its first comprehensive digital-asset law, requiring crypto exchanges and custody providers to obtain Australian Financial Services Licenses (AFSL). Key provisions: 1) Stablecoins, wrapped tokens, and tokenised securities classified as financial products, 2) ASIC introduced no-action position until June 30, 2026 for firms making genuine compliance efforts, 3) AUD$24 billion market opportunity comes into focus. The law addresses a gap exposed when 524 retail investors gained access to high-risk crypto derivatives without proper protections between July 2022-April 2023.
Coinbase Australia director and APAC MD John O'Loghlen welcomed the Senate committee report on the Digital Assets Framework Bill but highlighted the persistent issue of debanking, which was referenced extensively throughout the Bill. The proposed legislation would integrate cryptocurrency platforms and custody providers into Australia's financial services framework, requiring AFSL within 6 months if passed.
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee has backed proposed legislation to integrate cryptocurrency platforms and custody providers into Australia financial services framework. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 would require firms holding digital assets on behalf of customers to obtain AFSL within 6 months if passed.