ASIC Extends Crypto Licensing Relief Deadline to September 2026

Australia's corporate regulator has extended temporary enforcement relief for cryptocurrency businesses by three months. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced that digital asset firms will have until September 30, 2026, to comply with new licensing requirements.

The extension applies to businesses seeking an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence as well as those requiring market or clearing and settlement licences. ASIC also broadened the relief to include firms operating through authorised representatives or intermediary arrangements with existing licence holders.

The regulator introduced a temporary 'no-action' position after updating its Information Sheet 225 in late 2025, clarifying that many digital asset products fall within Australia's existing financial services laws and therefore require licensing. Since the updated guidance took effect, ASIC has received about 30 license applications from digital asset businesses.

ASIC cautioned that firms obtaining licences under the current framework may still need to secure additional authorisations once the Digital Asset Framework becomes operational in April 2027. This underscores that the current relief is intended as a transitional measure rather than a relaxation of oversight.