ASIC Cuts Red Tape: New Exemptions Unleash Stablecoin & Wrapped Token Distribution
Regulators just handed crypto a master key. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has finalized a sweeping set of exemptions, effectively dismantling major regulatory barriers for stablecoin and wrapped token issuers. This isn't a minor tweak—it's a structural shift designed to accelerate the flow of tokenized assets into the mainstream financial system.
The Regulatory Green Light
Forget months of legal limbo. The new framework creates clear pathways for compliant distribution, bypassing the traditional, agonizing licensing processes that have stifled innovation. It specifically targets the operational friction around asset-backed tokens, giving projects the legal certainty they've been begging for. Suddenly, launching a compliant AUD-pegged stablecoin or a wrapped token representing real-world assets looks less like a regulatory minefield and more like a viable business plan.
Why This Matters Now
The timing is strategic. With global financial authorities scrambling to establish digital asset rules, ASIC's move positions Australia as a pragmatic, not punitive, jurisdiction. It signals to builders that the goal isn't to choke the industry with legacy rules but to safely integrate it. For investors, it means a future with more accessible, regulated crypto-dollar alternatives and tokenized versions of everything from bonds to commodities—all without the usual Wall Street gatekeeping (and its hefty fees).
The new rules are live. The gate is open. The race to build the next generation of financial infrastructure just got a massive, government-sanctioned push. Whether this leads to robust innovation or just another avenue for speculative froth remains to be seen—after all, in finance, every 'efficiency gain' is just a fee waiting to be rediscovered.
ASIC Backs Omnibus Accounts to Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency
Under the new measures, intermediaries will be able to use omnibus account structures as long as they maintain proper records.
ASIC noted that these structures are widely adopted across the industry, offering speed advantages, lower operating costs and, in many cases, improved risk and cybersecurity practices.
For issuers, the change represents a more level playing field. Drew Bradford, CEO of Australian stablecoin issuer Macropod, said the clarity gives companies “confidence to build” as they expand their product lines.
He added that the streamlined approach, particularly around reserve management and asset-handling requirements, removes major friction points that previously slowed experimentation and growth.
Industry figures have long argued that older licensing rules were expensive and mismatched for a sector waiting on broader digital asset reforms.
Bradford said the new clarity is critical for scaling real-world use cases such as payments, cross-border transfers, treasury functions and onchain settlement.
“It signals that Australia intends to be competitive globally, while still maintaining the regulatory guardrails that institutions and consumers expect,” he said.
Angela Ang, head of policy and strategic partnerships at TRM Labs, also praised the move, saying she expects Australia’s regulatory landscape to solidify further in the coming year, a shift she believes will spur additional investment and innovation.
The policy shift comes as global stablecoin demand reaches new highs. Total stablecoin market capitalization has surpassed $300 billion, according to RWA.xyz, rising 48% since the start of the year.
Tether continues to dominate with a 63% share of the market.
Australia Moves Forward With Sweeping Crypto Licensing Bill
Last month, Australia introduced its first comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto exchanges and custody providers, aiming to tighten asset-protection standards and reduce risks for local users.
The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, unveiled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino, WOULD require platforms holding customer crypto to obtain an Australian Financial Services License and operate under ASIC oversight.
Lawmakers say the reforms could unlock up to $24 billion in annual productivity gains while improving investor safeguards.
The bill passed its first reading and advanced directly to a second, opening parliamentary debate. It creates two new license classes, “digital asset platform” and “tokenized custody platform,” and focuses regulation on companies that control customer funds, rather than the technology they use.
