Australia’s financial regulator has unveiled new exemptions to simplify the distribution of stablecoins and wrapped tokens, removing the need for separate Australian Financial Services licenses for intermediaries in secondary markets.

finalized exemptions cut licensing duplication for intermediaries, accelerating timelines and reducing costs in the stablecoin and wrapped-token ecosystem.

The reform enables omnibus account structures, with strict record-keeping, to lower operating costs, speed settlements, and improve risk management and cybersecurity in digital-asset services.

Supporters argue the reforms will boost productivity and trust in Australia’s crypto market, encouraging larger firms to participate while maintaining transparent reserves and reporting.

This policy change is part of a broader regulatory push, including the Digital Assets Framework, aimed at licensing crypto exchanges and custody providers and unlocking productivity gains.

Industry observers say clearer rules will attract investment and spur innovation in Australia’s crypto sector.

Industry voices say the move levels the playing field for stablecoin issuers and enables real-world use cases like payments, treasury management, cross-border flows, and on-chain settlement under guardrails.

ASIC emphasizes the exemptions support responsible growth and clearer rules, aligning with oversight goals under the Digital Assets Framework Bill.

Issuers and participants welcome the clarity, with leaders like Macropod’s Drew Bradford noting improved product development and reduced friction for growth.

New rules permit omnibus accounts to consolidate customer holdings, reducing costs and enabling faster settlement, while preserving necessary record-keeping.

Revised framework allows middlemen to use omnibus accounts to streamline operations, with enhanced records to support risk control and innovation.

Regulatory shifts aim to support cross-border payments, treasury and liquidity management, on-chain settlement, and institutional tokenization, aligning with global trends to capture stablecoin adoption.