SYDNEY, April 23, 2026 — The Australian Securities and Investments Commission on April 20 published a roadmap outlining how it plans to implement legislation that will bring digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms under Australia’s financial services licensing regime from April 2027.
ASIC said the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026 passed Parliament on April 1, received Royal Assent on April 8 and is scheduled to commence on April 9, 2027, providing an 18-month implementation period.
Under the new framework, ASIC said it will be responsible for licensing, supervising and enforcing the regime for digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms.
Consultation, standards and guidance
According to the roadmap, the first phase of implementation will include stakeholder roundtables, industry discussions and the establishment of an industry advisory group.
ASIC said it also plans to consult on new guidance and operational standards during the transition period.
The regulator said proposed standards are expected to cover asset-holding requirements, transactional and settlement arrangements, and financial requirements for operators.
ASIC also plans to publish a new regulatory guide setting out how the law will operate, including which firms are likely to require a licence under the regime.
Licensing window in 2027
The roadmap states that licence applications for affected firms are expected to open in April 2027.
Operators will be able to submit Australian financial services licence applications, with regulatory relief available in certain cases while applications are being processed, according to the roadmap.
ASIC said the transition window is expected to end in October 2027, after which the new framework will move into full supervision and enforcement.
Broader significance
The roadmap sets out a formal timetable for bringing digital asset trading venues and tokenised custody providers into an established financial licensing framework.
The measures are likely to be monitored by exchanges, custodians, legal advisers and policymakers assessing how digital asset activity can be incorporated into existing regulatory systems.
