The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recorded more than 45 applications linked to digital-asset services, as firms move to comply with licensing requirements before a September 30 deadline.
The number of applications has increased significantly since June, when ASIC reported around 30 filings. That suggests roughly 15 additional applications have entered the pipeline in just over two months.
Businesses currently relying on ASIC’s no-action position have until September 30, 2026 to apply for, or vary, an Australian Financial Services Licence where required.
From October 1, firms that need authorization but have not met the conditions of the transitional relief could face civil or criminal penalties. According to the regulator’s framework, financial penalties can reach as much as 10% of annual turnover.
ASIC said the applications have been recorded since it updated its guidance on digital assets in October 2025.
The regulator has not disclosed how many of the filings relate to completely new licences versus changes to existing permissions. It has also not said how many applications came from separate companies, how many are complete, or how many have already reached a decision.
The current licensing push follows ASIC’s updated interpretation of how existing Australian financial-services law may apply to products including stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities and wallets, depending on their characteristics.
Importantly, the current process is taking place under existing legislation, before Australia’s planned dedicated digital-asset framework comes into force.
ASIC’s no-action position provides only limited temporary protection and is not a full exemption from financial-services law.
The relief does not cover every type of digital-asset activity. Crypto lending and “earn” products are excluded, as are certain non-cash payment facilities and digital-asset derivatives other than wrapped tokens.
This distinction is particularly relevant for CFD providers, because ASIC has previously said the industry already has greater certainty over how financial-services law applies to derivatives, including CFDs linked to digital assets.
Brokers and other intermediaries therefore need to assess each product and service separately when deciding whether an Australian financial services licence is required.
Businesses that require an Australian market licence or a clearing and settlement facility licence face a different process.
Those firms must notify ASIC in writing and hold a pre-application meeting with the regulator by September 30.
The extended relief also applies to certain qualifying businesses operating as authorised representatives or through intermediary authorization structures, provided they meet ASIC’s conditions.
With the deadline approaching, the increase to more than 45 applications shows that digital-asset companies are moving quickly to formalize their regulatory position as Australia tightens oversight of the sector.
