The Australian financial regulator, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, said in its Key Issues Outlook 2026 on Tuesday that it will treat new participants in digital assets as a “regulatory perimeter” issue and signal how it will regulate crypto entities in the year ahead. It framed digital assets alongside payments and AI-driven financial services to highlight gaps in licensing and oversight.
ASIC grouped digital assets with payments and AI-powered services, stated the report. The regulator warned of risks from unlicensed activity, misleading conduct, and firms operating at the edges of existing laws.
“Some entities will actively seek to remain outside regulation, contributing to perceived regulatory uncertainty,” ASIC wrote. The outlook said maintaining clarity on licensing boundaries and stronger perimeter oversight will be priorities in 2026 (Ed. note: final licensing changes require government action).
Enforcement activity underlined the focus on digital assets. An Australian federal court ordered BPS Financial to pay penalties of $9.3 million over misleading claims and unlicensed conduct tied to its Qoin Wallet product.
In November, Treasury released draft legislation proposing that digital asset platforms hold an Australian Financial Services Licence. The proposal would extend conduct, disclosure, and risk-management obligations to licensed crypto trading and custody platforms.
