Australia’s corporate regulator has introduced new exemptions that will make it simpler for companies to handle certain digital tokens, such as stablecoins and wrapped assets.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the changes are designed to support growth and innovation in the country’s digital asset and payments markets.
Under the new approach, ASIC is offering “class relief” to intermediaries involved in the secondary distribution of approved stablecoins and wrapped tokens.
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This means that firms no longer need to apply for separate financial licenses for these specific services. Instead, they can operate through shared or “omnibus” accounts, provided they maintain accurate records.
The regulator noted that omnibus accounts are already common in digital trading. These pooled systems can help reduce transaction costs, speed up processing, and support better risk and cybersecurity management when used responsibly.
Drew Bradford, CEO of the Australian stablecoin issuer Macropod, said:
ASIC’s announcement helps level the playing field for stablecoin innovation in Australia.
He added that a clearer, more adaptable framework would allow both new and existing businesses to build with greater confidence.
The update extends earlier exemptions that only applied to stablecoin activities. Currently, wrapped tokens, digital versions of other assets, are also included.
Recently, Australia proposed requiring crypto exchanges and custodians to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence under ASIC oversight. What does the proposal include? Read the full story.
