Australia has made a bold move to regulate its cryptocurrency sector by introducing the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025. This initiative aims to unlock $24 billion in annual productivity while enforcing strict protections for client holdings.
Announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino
, the bill creates a robust regulatory structure for digital asset exchanges and tokenized asset custodians, representing a major shift in the nation’s crypto governance. The legislation adds two new categories of financial products to the Corporations Act:
platforms that manage and process crypto assets on behalf of clients
, and tokenized custody services that oversee tangible assets such as real estate and commodities via redeemable tokens.
This regulatory update addresses increasing worries about the dangers of unregulated crypto trading and storage. The bill requires platforms to secure an Australian Financial Services Licence and comply with ASIC’s standards for custody and settlement, which demand operations that are “efficient, honest, and fair.”
Providers with transaction volumes below $10 million
and serving customers with less than $5,000 in assets are not subject to full licensing, enabling smaller startups to innovate without immediate regulatory constraints. Web3 education specialist James Volpe
highlighted that this method encourages innovation while managing risk
, describing it as “early-stage experimentation that doesn’t require every prototype to become licensed from the outset.”
This legislation reflects a broader international trend toward regulating tokenization and digital assets. In the United States,
the GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025
, set up a national regulatory system for stablecoins, and the SEC’s “Project Crypto” aims to update digital asset market infrastructure. These actions highlight a growing agreement on the importance of clear regulatory frameworks for tokenized assets. Australia’s new law positions it to compete globally, especially as
platforms such as GAIA—a U.S. tokenization marketplace set to launch in December
attract institutional investment in real estate.
The push for regulation has stirred discussion within the sector. Supporters believe the bill will enhance trust and transparency, while detractors fear it could hinder innovation.
The SEC’s recent opposition to crypto companies
seeking to avoid standard regulations illustrates the ongoing struggle between oversight and flexibility. Australia’s strategy, however, focuses on proportional regulation, with penalties for violations and exemptions for low-risk players to strike a balance between security and growth.
The bill’s advancement comes after
ASIC’s revised rules on custody and yield products
, which now classify tokens and stablecoins as financial products under current law. This harmonization with established regulations helps companies transition smoothly to the new requirements. As Australia moves toward enacting the bill, the global crypto community will be watching, as the outcome could influence not just compliance but also overall confidence in digital assets.
