Cointree announces AFSL application | Press Release

Cointree is pleased to announce that we’ve officially applied for an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), an important and significant step in our ongoing commitment to supporting the advancement of regulations within Australia’s digital asset space. 

As of the 30th of September 2026, relevant businesses needed to have applied for an Australian Financial Services Licence, or met the conditions for another permitted arrangement, to continue relying on ASIC’s transitional no-action position.

We welcome ASIC’s updated guidance, which brings clarity to existing financial services laws and how they apply to digital assets and services, giving our industry, as well as users, a clearer picture of regulatory obligations.

Greater regulatory clarity supports a stronger, more transparent and accountable digital asset sector. Helping build consumer confidence and strengthen the foundations for digital assets within Australia’s broader financial sector.

Under Australia’s AML/CTF reforms, businesses such as Cointree are now described as virtual asset service providers (VASPs), replacing the previous term “digital currency exchanges”. The new terminology better reflects the range of virtual asset services covered by the AML/CTF framework. These obligations sit alongside, and separate from, any AFSL requirements.

Cointree is positive about the progress for our industry, and we are committed to meeting our regulatory requirements as well as supporting a future in which digital asset services operate within clear standards.

"This is an exciting step forward, not just for Cointree, but for Australia's broader digital asset industry. The opportunity for crypto businesses to operate within an established financial services regulatory framework is an important part of the industry's evolution. It creates a pathway for greater consumer confidence, stronger governance and continued innovation. We've always believed digital assets have a place in the future of financial services, and we're pleased to be taking this next step.”

- Jess Renden, CEO, Cointree

Please note: Our AFSL application remains subject to ASIC’s assessment. We have applied for a licence; it has not yet been granted.