New crypto regulation coming to Australia

In Australia, the government has announced a new regulation for the crypto sector, with the aim of promoting innovation and ensuring consumer protection. The plan, promoted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, involves extending current financial regulations to major digital platform operators, with particular attention to the regulation of stablecoins and custody services.

The initiative follows similar models adopted by the European Union and Singapore, demonstrating Australia’s willingness to align with the most advanced global regulatory systems in the field of digital resources.

Australia: crypto regulation oriented towards security and growth of the sector  

The Australian Treasury Department has published a document outlining new reforms aimed at the cryptocurrency sector. The main objective is to provide regulatory certainty to investors and industry operators, while allowing the development of new financial solutions based on blockchain.

According to statements made by the Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, and the Special Envoy for Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience Andrew Charlton, the Australian government recognizes the economic potential of blockchain and digital assets. These tools can enhance financial markets, the payments sector, and access to capital, representing a significant growth opportunity for the country.  

Clear rules for the bull and bear operators  

The government has decided that the new regulations will apply to the main operators of digital platforms, including exchange, servizi di custodia e broker di criptovalute. Every platform that manages digital assets will need to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence (Australian Financial Services Licence, AFSL), while small businesses and those not directly involved in financial services will be exempt from this obligation.

The objective is to encourage innovation while ensuring that Australians can use and invest in cryptocurrencies safely. The reform will allow for the adoption of user protection measures, preventing fraudulent behavior and improving transparency in the sector.  

The government has announced that a public consultation will be initiated before the final adoption of the regulatory framework. The draft law will be presented during the year to gather opinions from stakeholders and industry experts.  

Tokenization, real assets, and CBDC: the new opportunities for Australia  

The new regulatory plan is not limited to the regulation of exchanges, but aims to modernize the entire Australian financial system. Among the main areas of interest are:  

• Tokenization of real assets (RWA): the use of blockchain to represent material and financial goods.
• Regulated stablecoins: the integration of fiat currency-pegged coins into payment systems.
• Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): the hypothesis of a digital version of the Australian dollar.

In this regard, the Ministry of the Treasury is collaborating with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to assess the feasibility of an Australian CBDC. Last September, a joint report between the central bank and the Ministry of the Treasury highlighted the potential of CBDCs in strengthening domestic financial markets.  

The next steps involve tests and experiments with tokenized digital currencies, stablecoin, and other innovations in the sector. The goal is to understand the operational and regulatory impacts of these instruments before a potential large-scale adoption.    

Conclusion: a step forward for the crypto ecosystem in Australia  

The initiative of the Australian government represents an important step forward for the cryptocurrency sector, aiming to ensure a solid regulatory foundation without slowing down innovation. With an approach similar to that of the European Union and Singapore, Australia demonstrates its intention to position itself as one of the leading countries in the regulation of digital assets.

Through a mix of regulatory security, incentives for innovation, and experimentation with new technologies such as CBDCs, the government aims to make Australia a reference hub for the development of the crypto market. The challenge now will be balancing consumer protection and freedom of innovation, finding the right balance to support the growth of the sector.