Australia Digital Assets Framework Bill Advances: Custody Classification at Heart of Draft Laws

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.

High impact🇦🇺 AustraliaRegulationCustodyLicensingBTCETHCoinbase

APAC FINSTAB analysis

For APAC operators, this creates a high-impact signal around regulation, custody, licensing in Australia. Protocols/assets in scope: BTC, ETH. Named institutions or platforms: Coinbase. Teams should monitor the original source, map the change to licensing, custody, disclosure, and market-access obligations, and update their jurisdiction playbooks before the next compliance review.

Compliance read-through: map this event to entity licensing, market-access, custody, disclosure, token listing, and operational-risk obligations before expanding or marketing in the affected jurisdiction.

View related Regulation tracker page →

Related policy events

November 2, 2026

CPC Decision Targets Crypto-Enabled Corruption And Cross-Border Asset Recovery

A CPC Central Committee decision published by Xinhua calls for resolute action against corruption involving the internet, virtual currencies, cross-border funds, and blockchain, alongside stronger cross-border casework and asset recovery. The policy signal increases expectations for transaction tracing, beneficial-owner checks, and cooperation with enforcement requests at digital-asset intermediaries.

High impact🇨🇳 ChinaRegulationAMLEnforcement

APAC FINSTAB analysis → Original source ↗

October 31, 2026

CFTC Signals Stronger Cybersecurity Rules For Crypto Exchanges

The US CFTC signaled that it may strengthen cybersecurity rules for crypto exchanges. Any resulting requirements would raise expectations for cyber-risk governance, incident response, and resilience controls at derivatives and digital-asset trading venues.

High impact🇺🇸 United StatesRegulationExchange

APAC FINSTAB analysis → Original source ↗

October 31, 2026

CLARITY Act Debate Focuses On Suspicious-Transaction Freezes And CFTC Authority

US policy discussions around the CLARITY Act continued to focus on suspicious-transaction freezing powers and the CFTC’s scope of authority. The debate could shape compliance escalation and supervisory boundaries for digital-asset market intermediaries.

High impact🇺🇸 United StatesRegulationAML

APAC FINSTAB analysis → Original source ↗

October 22, 2026

FCA Consults On DeFi Guidance For Regulated Firms

The UK Financial Conduct Authority opened GC26/7 consultation on non-Handbook guidance for regulated firms using DeFi, covering operational resilience, financial-crime controls and Money Laundering Regulations obligations. The guidance would clarify how existing controls apply to DeFi dependencies such as smart contracts, bridges and oracle services.

High impact🇬🇧 United KingdomRegulationAMLDeFi

APAC FINSTAB analysis → Original source ↗