Australia Passes Digital Asset Regulation Act, Exchange Licensing Becomes a Legal Requirement

On April 1, the Australian Parliament passed the "Corporations Amendment (Digital Asset Framework) 2025," which represents the first comprehensive digital asset legal framework.

The bill requires cryptocurrency exchanges and custodial service providers to obtain an Australian Financial Services License within six months. The legislation has already been successfully approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

According to reports, the new law creates two entirely new regulatory categories based on the Corporations Act: cryptocurrency exchanges and custodial service providers;

Cryptocurrency exchanges hold cryptocurrencies on behalf of users, while custodial platforms hold real-world assets and issue corresponding digital tokens, subjecting them to core regulatory rules similar to brokers and fund managers.

The bill does not directly regulate cryptocurrencies but focuses on managing intermediary entities that handle customer funds. Its goal is to prevent risks such as asset commingling, platform insolvency, and asset misappropriation, thereby protecting investors from losses due to project failures.

Moreover, policymakers hope that this regulatory framework will reduce risks while helping Australia capture a larger share of digital financial opportunities.

According to research data from the Digital Financial Cooperation Research Center and industry organizations, Australia is expected to generate up to AUD 24 billion in annual revenue from tokenization markets, payments, and digital assets—about 1% of its GDP.

However, under previous regulatory paths, the country was projected to earn only AUD 1 billion from this market by 2030. The bill also indicates the potential for a new regulatory framework to promote the development of Australia's digital finance sector.

In summary, Australia's adoption of this comprehensive digital asset regulation not only lays a legal foundation for the industry’s standardized development but also provides better protection mechanisms for investors.

The significance of this key move lies in its ability to offer a replicable regulatory model for the digital asset industry and serve as a reference for other jurisdictions balancing innovation and risk.

#澳大利亚 # Digital Asset Regulation Bill