Coinbase expands Australia ops as crypto bill awaits assent
Get the Finance newsletter
Daily finance — markets, central banks, M&A, the prints that move money. Free.
- Australia's Parliament passed the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 on April 1, requiring crypto exchanges to hold an AFSL; the bill awaits royal assent and takes effect 12 months after assent is granted.
- Coinbase obtained an AFSL license and is expanding its Australian team with senior hires across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations drawn from other regulated industries.
- Coinbase Australia head O'Loghlen said the bill's passage provides regulatory clarity for crypto firms and investors, while flagging stablecoin regulation as "the obvious gap" that still needs a clear framework.
- Independent Reserve's Cryptocurrency Index estimates 33% of Australians have crypto exposure in 2026, up from 31% in 2025, among a population of more than 27.7 million — one of the highest per capita rates globally.
- Coinbase and OKX introduced services for self-managed superannuation funds in September, tapping Australia's superannuation pool estimated at roughly 4.5 trillion AUD ($3.1 trillion) by the end of Q3 2025.
Why it matters: With the DAP bill passed, crypto firms now have a defined legal path to operate in Australia — a market where 33% of adults already hold digital assets and the 4.5 trillion AUD superannuation system represents a massive untapped distribution channel for crypto retirement products. O'Loghlen's pointed call for stablecoin rules signals the next regulatory fight that will determine which firms can offer yield-bearing or payment products locally.
