Australia's ASIC: Digital Asset Firms Must Apply for License by September 30 or Face Penalties

BlockBeats News, September 3rd — According to an official announcement from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), companies in the ASIC digital asset industry that rely on ASIC's policy of "no-action" must apply for or change their Australian Financial Services (AFS) license by September 30, 2026, otherwise they may be in violation of financial services law starting from October 1.

ASIC stated that companies requiring an Australian Market License or a Clearing and Settlement (CS) Facility License must also notify ASIC in writing of their intention to apply by September 30 and complete a pre-application meeting. Companies that do not meet the relevant conditions may face civil and criminal penalties, with fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

Since the update of the digital asset regulatory guidance in October 2025, ASIC has received over 45 related license applications. ASIC stated that ending the transitional regulatory exemption for digital asset businesses is an important step in transitioning the industry into a formal regulatory framework.

In addition, the Australian Digital Asset Framework Amendment Act was passed by Parliament in April 2026, received royal assent on April 8, and will officially come into effect on April 9, 2027. Even after the new framework is implemented, some existing licenses will continue to apply.