ASIC Introduces Stricter Capital and Licensing Rules for Crypto Exchanges

Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released a consultation paper on 15 October 2026, setting out new regulatory standards for cryptocurrency exchanges and digital‑asset custodians. The rules will take effect on 8 April 2027, and existing exchanges must apply for a licence by 7 October 2027 to continue operating. ASIC’s objective is to bring crypto firms under the traditional financial‑services regulatory framework, a move prompted by the 2022 collapse of FTX, which left roughly 30,000 Australian customers’ funds frozen. The proposed capital thresholds are tiered: exchanges that do not use third‑party custodians must hold net assets of at least A$14 million or 10 % of revenue (whichever is higher). Exchanges that employ a qualified independent custodian face a lower minimum of A$200,000, but the effective threshold is the highest of A$14 million, 0.5 % of asset value (capped at A$7 million), or 10 % of revenue. Additional restrictions include limits on self‑trading and prohibitions on counting self‑issued stable‑coin holdings toward capital requirements. These measures aim to mitigate risks similar to those that surfaced during FTX’s failure and to strengthen consumer protection in the crypto market.

Written with AI from the reporting · updated 10/15/2026

1. 1Oct 15, 00:00recorded Oct 15, 22:26revised

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