<p>Cryptocurrency businesses operating in Australia without proper authorization have until Sept. 30, 2026, to apply for a financial services license or face civil and criminal penalties. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issued the warning on Sept. 2, 2026, describing it as a final call for firms that have been relying on temporary enforcement relief.</p><p>Companies that need an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license must file an application, or request a variation to an existing license, before the deadline passes. Businesses requiring market licenses, or clearing and settlement licenses, face an additional step: They must notify ASIC and complete a pre-application meeting before Sept. 30.</p><h2 id="penalties-begin-oct-1">Penalties Begin Oct. 1</h2><p>From Oct. 1, 2026, any firm that needs authorization but has not satisfied the conditions of ASIC's no-action position risks operating in breach of financial services law. The regulator said penalties could include fines of up to 10% of annual turnover, as well as criminal charges.</p><p>ASIC first updated its digital asset guidance in October 2025 and has since received more than 45 license applications related to digital assets. That number had reached approximately 30 as of June 25, 2026, when the regulator extended the relief window from June 30 to Sept. 30.</p><p><strong>Related Article: <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/academy/article/coinbase-australia-smsf-crypto-support" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase Australia Adds Crypto Support For Self-Managed Retirement Funds</a></strong></p><p>That June extension also broadened the scope of temporary relief to cover crypto businesses operating as authorized representatives of licensed firms or those working through certain intermediary arrangements. The expanded coverage gave more firms a path to remain compliant while preparing their applications.</p><h2 id="separate-from-2027-regulatory-overhaul">Separate From 2027 Regulatory Overhaul</h2><p>The Sept. 30 deadline applies only to firms relying on ASIC's current no-action position and is not connected to Australia's broader Digital Asset Framework, which takes effect April 9, 2027. That framework will impose a wider set of obligations on the crypto sector, but companies must still meet the nearer licensing deadline to continue operating legally before then.</p><p>With less than four weeks remaining, ASIC's message is that firms without pending applications are running out of time. The regulator has not signaled any further extensions beyond Sept. 30.</p>

Australia Gives Crypto Firms Until Sept. 30 to Get Licensed or Face Fines

Table of Contents

Other articles published on Sep 3, 2026

Coinbase Launches Regulated Crypto Futures in Canada With 10x Leverage

Hyperscale Data Ends Bitcoin Mining in Michigan, Holdings Drop 79%

Ondo Urges SEC and CFTC To Allow US Stock Perpetual Futures Onshore

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!