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The Australian government’s draft legislation represents a foundational architectural shift for the digital asset market. It recasts crypto exchanges as regulated financial entities, compelling them to operate within the established Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) system. This systemic integration is designed to fortify market integrity by mandating stringent standards for asset custody, transaction settlement, and platform governance.

The immediate consequence is an elevation of operational requirements, aligning the digital asset ecosystem with the proven resilience of traditional finance. This structural alignment provides a clear, legible framework for institutional participants.

The legislation establishes a formal regulatory perimeter, integrating crypto platforms into the national financial infrastructure to enhance market stability and investor confidence.

  • New Asset Classifications ▴ “digital asset platform” and “tokenized custody platform
  • Licensing Mandate ▴ Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)
  • Maximum Penalty ▴ The greater of $10.8M, 3x benefit, or 10% of annual turnover

Signal Acquired from ▴ Cointelegraph

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