Australia

Cryptocurrency

ASIC Seeks Balance In Regulation of Crypto and Stablecoins

By Nathan Lynch | 26/09/2025

ASIC is taking a proactive approach to regulating cryptocurrency, despite chair Joe Longo's insistence that the products are too risky for his own portfolio, writes Nathan Lynch.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

ASIC Rescinds Plan to Publish Firm-Level Breach Data

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 26/09/2025

ASIC has reversed plans to publish firm-level compliance breach data after industry feedback, but will proceed with publishing individual firms' complaints data.

Payments & Settlements

RBA Dismisses Concerns That Card Fee Reforms WIll Impact Fraud Protections

By Mark Johnston | 26/09/2025

RBA governor has rejected industry warnings that the plan to ban card surcharges will result in reduced fraud prevention for consumers.

Credit Risk

ASIC Urges Lenders to Further Improve Hardship Support

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/09/2025

New ASIC report finds lenders have improved processes for customers in financial distress, but warns against "cookie-cutter" responses amid ongoing enforcement.

Custody & Infrastructure

Australia Unveils Draft Legislation to Regulate Crypto Platforms

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/09/2025

The new framework proposes bringing custodial crypto platforms under the financial services licensing regime, imposing new standards for asset holding and disclosure.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

Macquarie to Repay Customers with Losses from Shield Master Fund

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/09/2025

ASIC said Macquarie Investment Management committed to repaying about 3,000 customers who invested in the now collapsed Shield Master Fund.

KYC & CDD

Australia Releases Modernised Identity Proofing Guidelines

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/09/2025

New national guidelines introduce a risk-based approach and standards for facial verification to combat identity crime.

Structural Regulation

ASIC Reduces Complaints Reporting Frequency for Small Banks

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/09/2025

ASIC has moved to immediately reduce the internal dispute resolution reporting frequency for small banks from biannual to annual to cut regulatory costs.

Payments & Settlements

RBA Outlines Payments Strategy, Targeting Resilience and Modernisation

By Manesh Samtani | 24/09/2025

The RBA's annual payments report details a new two-year strategy focused on system resilience, payments competition, and digital currency research.