Digital Assets Are Entering Their Licensing Era

Australia’s digital asset sector is moving into a more regulated phase.

ASIC has released its roadmap for implementing the new digital assets law reforms, following the passage of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Act 2026. The new regime is expected to commence in April 2027 and will bring Digital Asset Platforms and Tokenised Custody Platforms into the financial services licensing framework.

For crypto exchanges, custody providers, tokenised asset platforms and related businesses, the message is clear: the sector is moving from informal growth to formal licensing, supervision and compliance.

The transition period has started

ASIC has outlined an implementation period before the new regime fully applies.

During this time, ASIC is expected to consult with industry, release new guidance and develop standards for platform operators. These standards are likely to cover key areas such as custody, asset segregation, transaction processes, platform operations, financial requirements, record keeping, operational resilience and market integrity.

This is not just a paperwork exercise. Digital asset businesses will need to show they have proper systems, controls and governance in place.

Compliance needs to be built into the model

The biggest shift is that compliance can no longer sit outside the business model.

How client assets are held, how transactions are executed, how records are maintained and how risks are monitored will all become part of the regulatory picture.

Businesses should be asking:

Does our platform hold client assets?

Are assets properly segregated?

Do we have clear custody and settlement processes?

Is our compliance framework documented?

Are we prepared for licensing obligations?

These questions should be addressed now, not when the regime is already in force.

Different models, different risks

Not every digital asset business will be treated the same way.

A custody provider may raise different issues to a trading platform. A broker model may be assessed differently from a vertically integrated exchange. Some tokenised asset models may also overlap with existing financial services laws.

The practical point is simple: businesses need to understand where they sit under the new framework before they can properly prepare.

How Hash Elevens can help

Hash Elevens helps digital asset, blockchain and Web3 businesses understand where they sit within Australia’s changing regulatory landscape.

We support businesses with regulatory mapping, operating model reviews, governance frameworks and practical preparation for the next phase of digital asset regulation.

As licensing becomes part of the sector, early preparation will be key to operating with confidence and building trust.

Contact Hash Elevens

Email: hello@hashelevens.com.au