Overview
- ASIC announced the extension to September 30, 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026, giving digital asset firms three extra months to progress Australian Financial Services licence applications.
- The widened no-action position now covers businesses applying for AFS licences, market or clearing authorisations, and firms operating under authorised representative or intermediary arrangements.
- Firms must notify ASIC and attend a pre-application meeting to obtain the temporary protection and must meet the conditions set out in the regulator’s class no-action letter.
- The High Court’s Block Earner ruling and ASIC’s October 2025 INFO 225 guidance underpin the move by treating some tokens, including stablecoins and tokenised securities, as financial products that can trigger licensing duties.
- Parliament passed a permanent Digital Assets Framework that starts on April 9, 2027, and firms that secure licences under current guidance may still need extra authorisations for digital asset platform or tokenised custody roles once the new law begins.