Australian Senate panel backs crypto regulation framework

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee said the proposed legislation will modernize digital assets regulatory framework.

Parliament house, Canberra, Australia. (Unsplash)
Summary
  • An Australian Senate committee has endorsed a bill that would bring cryptocurrency platforms and custody providers under the country’s existing financial services framework.
  • The proposed Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 would create a licensing and compliance regime for digital token managers by amending the Companies Act and the ASIC Act.

An Australian Senate committee has backed proposed legislation to integrate cryptocurrency platforms and custody providers into the country’s financial services framework.

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee said in a report published Monday that the proposed Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 would modernize digital-asset oversight with traditional market safeguards to protect consumers.

The framework seeks to establish a licensing and compliance system for digital token managers by amending the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.

The proposal targets firms that hold digital assets on behalf of customers, bringing them under existing financial services rules instead of attempting to regulate the underlying blockchain infrastructure. Should the measure become law, firms without an AFSL would be given six months to obtain the required authorization and comply with the new framework.

Crypto exchanges operating in Australia are already required to register with the country’s financial intelligence agency, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, as digital currency providers before offering exchange services.

ER June 2026 Image

CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.

Why it matters:

CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.