Overview

• Intermediaries can distribute stablecoins issued by entities holding an Australian Financial Services licence without obtaining separate AFS, market or clearing facility licences.
• The relief becomes legally effective only after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
• Coverage is limited to stablecoins from AFS-licensed issuers, and intermediaries must make the issuer's product disclosure statement available to clients.
• Catena Digital’s Australian dollar stablecoin, AUDM, is currently the first to qualify under the exemption.
• ASIC is finalizing updates to its digital assets guidance (INFO 225) and said it may extend the relief as more issuers secure licences while Treasury progresses a permanent stablecoin framework.