pc
nid 92082
Apr 21, 2026
kgurnani@vixio.com
Australia
Australian Securities and Investments Comission
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2024 charsAustralian Securities and Investments Commission Sets Out Implementation Roadmap for Digital Assets Framework
On 8 April 2026, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) published its implementation roadmap for the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 (DAF Act), which received Royal Assent on that date and will commence on 9 April 2027.
The DAF Act brings digital asset platforms (DAPs) and tokenised custody platforms (TCPs) under the financial services licensing regime. ASIC will be responsible for licensing and supervising these platforms. The legislation provides for an 18-month implementation timeline, during which ASIC intends to issue new regulatory guidance and set operational standards through legislative instruments.
Over months one to six, ASIC will conduct stakeholder roundtables and establish an industry advisory group, whilst consulting on regulatory guidance and operational standards. The class no-action position under Information Sheet 225 will expire in June 2026, requiring entities to comply with existing licensing requirements. Between months six and twelve, ASIC will release a new Regulatory Guide for DAPs and TCPs and make regulatory instruments setting standards for asset-holding, transactional and settlement, and financial requirements. From months twelve to eighteen, DAP and TCP operators can lodge financial services licence applications and operate under regulatory relief. Full implementation commences from month eighteen onwards.
ASIC intends to consult on asset-holding standards under section 912BE, transactional and settlement standards under section 912BF, and financial requirements. The regulatory guidance will be principles-based and cover topics including platform operation fairness, execution practices, price transparency, listing criteria, operational resilience, record-keeping, settlement arrangements, asset segregation, client withdrawal rights, and liquidity requirements.
Stakeholders should contact ASIC at fintech@asic.gov.au for further information or to participate in upcoming consultations and roundtable discussions.
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2109 charsAustralian Securities and Investments Commission Sets Out Implementation Roadmap for Digital Assets Framework
On April 8, 2026, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) published its implementation roadmap for the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 (DAF Act), which received Royal Assent on that date and will commence on April 9, 2027. The DAF Act brings digital asset platforms (DAPs) and tokenised custody platforms (TCPs) under the financial services licensing regime.
In the first phase (months 1–6) , ASIC focuses on industry engagement and rule design. This includes stakeholder roundtables, fintech liaison discussions, and the establishment of an industry advisory group, alongside formal consultation on the new regulatory guidance and operational standards that will underpin the regime. A key near-term pressure point is that existing regulatory relief (such as INFO 225 no-action positions ) will expire, meaning firms must increasingly rely on full compliance with existing licensing expectations during the transition.
In the second phase (months 6–12) , ASIC will begin to formalise the regime by issuing new regulatory guidance and legislative instruments. These are expected to cover core operational requirements such as:
asset holding and custody standards
transaction execution and settlement processes
financial and capital requirements aligned with existing AFSL rules This phase effectively translates the high-level legislation into detailed, enforceable obligations and clarifies which firms fall within scope.
In the final phase (months 12–18) , the regime becomes operational from an industry perspective. Digital asset and custody providers will be able to submit applications for an Australian Financial Services Licence (or variations), and can continue operating under transitional relief while ASIC assesses those applications. Full implementation—and active supervision and enforcement—kicks in after this window, with the regime expected to be fully in force by around October 2027.
Stakeholders should contact ASIC at fintech@asic.gov.au for further information or to participate in upcoming consultations and roundtable discussions.