ASIC sets Sept. 30 deadline for crypto firms to apply for financial services license

ASIC tightens compliance for digital asset businesses

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the country’s chief financial regulator, has announced that businesses requiring an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license must submit their applications or seek amendments to existing licenses before the end-of-September deadline. Firms needing market or clearing and settlement licenses are also required to inform ASIC and schedule a pre-application meeting.

ASIC’s notice directly impacts companies that have been operating under the regulator’s temporary “no-action” position, which provided transitional relief from certain enforcement actions. Starting October 1, crypto firms that require regulatory authorization but have not complied will be breaching Australia’s financial services law. ASIC has specified that such breaches could lead to both civil and criminal penalties.

ASIC emphasized that businesses failing to meet licensing conditions after September 30 may face severe consequences, including substantial financial penalties and possible criminal proceedings.

This move comes as ASIC prepares to phase out temporary enforcement relief, increasing the urgency for digital asset companies to complete the licensing process.

Applications surge as deadline approaches

Since updating its guidance for digital asset businesses in October 2025, ASIC has received over 45 digital asset-related license applications. The regulator noted a notable increase in submissions as the deadline neared, suggesting that many market participants are now seeking to formalize their operations within Australia’s regulatory framework.

The relief period was recently extended from June 30 to September 30, following industry feedback. The extension was accompanied by an expansion to include crypto businesses operating as authorized representatives of licensed entities or through certain intermediary arrangements. At that time, ASIC had received close to 30 applications, with numbers continuing to rise in subsequent weeks.

The transition relief covers a broader range of business models after the extension, giving companies more flexibility as they enter the regulatory process while emphasizing that compliance is mandatory after September 30.

Australia continues to refine its regulatory landscape for the crypto sector, aiming to safeguard investors and ensure market stability as new frameworks are put in place.

Upcoming Digital Asset Framework

The current transition relief is distinct from the broader Digital Asset Framework, scheduled to come into force in Australia on April 9, 2027. The new framework is expected to introduce comprehensive regulations for digital asset service providers, supplementing existing financial services laws.

ASIC’s current efforts are focused on bringing immediate oversight to the sector, while the forthcoming framework will further define the licensing, custody, and operational standards for the industry in the coming years.

Mini dictionary: ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) is Australia’s national body regulating financial services, markets, and companies, responsible for consumer protection and market integrity.

Recent enforcement actions, such as ordering Cryptolink Bitcoin ATMs offline over reporting failures, underline ASIC’s increasing attention to compliance among crypto firms as the regulatory environment intensifies.