Coinbase Granted AFSL License in Australia by Financial Regulator

Coinbase is planning to broaden its choices in Australia to incorporate derivatives, equities and funds after securing an Australian monetary companies license (AFSL).

John O’Loghlen, regional managing director for APAC at Coinbase, mentioned the Australian monetary companies license (AFSL) will see the trade initially supply crypto and fairness perpetuals however will open the door for futures, choices and different conventional monetary merchandise.

“We’re going to compete with conventional monetary companies on inventory buying and selling, funds and different TradFi merchandise with the velocity and execution of crypto,” O’Loghlen mentioned.

Holding an AFSL topics Coinbase to the identical requirements of conduct, disclosure, governance and shopper safety that apply to conventional monetary companies suppliers, marking a major milestone in Australia’s push to determine a devoted regulatory framework for digital property.

Licensing laws takes impact 12 months after assent

The Companies Modification (Digital Belongings Framework) Invoice 2025 passed both houses of the Australian Parliament on April 1. The invoice is now ready for royal assent, the ultimate step earlier than turning into legislation. It’s set to take impact 12 months after assent.

“Considerate regulation is nice for purchasers, good for the business and good for Australia’s ambition to be a number one digital economic system in the Asia-Pacific area,” O’Loghlen mentioned.

In February, crypto executives, together with O’Loghlen, told Cointelegraph that Australia’s crypto market is making progress in person progress and regulatory reforms, however there are nonetheless a spread of points to iron out.

Crypto trade Impartial Reserve’s Cryptocurrency Index estimates that 33% of Australians have publicity to cryptocurrency, up from 31% in 2025, amongst a inhabitants of greater than 27.7 million. It additionally discovered {that a} growing number of people are using crypto to pay for items and companies in contrast with the 12 months earlier than.

Coinbase is increasing in Australia with new hires

Together with its AFSL license, Coinbase mentioned it has been increasing its native group with senior hires throughout authorized, compliance, advertising and marketing and operations, drawing from different regulated industries.

Associated: Australia fines local Binance unit $6.9M over client onboarding failures

In September, Coinbase and crypto trade competitor OKX introduced services for self-managed superannuation funds in Australia, giving people new methods so as to add crypto to the nation’s retirement financial savings system.

Australia’s whole superannuation property have been estimated at round 4.5 trillion Australian dollars ($3.1 trillion) by the tip of the third quarter of 2025. 

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