Australian corporate regulator warns digital asset innovation is widening risk gaps

In its Key issues outlook 2026 report, ASIC said consumers are being exposed to a growing number of unlicensed firms offering crypto related products and services, as well as new payment and AI businesses operating at the edge of existing rules.

ASIC argued that it is for the government to decide whether and how new products should be brought under regulation, but cautioned that some companies may actively try to remain unlicensed, adding to what it called perceived regulatory uncertainty.

The regulator said it will focus in 2026 on monitoring where business models test regulatory boundaries and on keeping licensing expectations clear.

The report follows amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 that set out rules for companies handling customers digital assets.

As GNcrypto wrote on 23 January 2026, PwC said crypto adoption is developing at different speeds across regions and still depends on economic conditions, financial inclusion, and local infrastructure, even as networks are borderless. The report cited estimates from CryptoQuant chief executive Ki Young Ju that institutional funds bought 577,000 bitcoin over the past year, or about $53 billion, and noted comments from FFTT founder Luke Gromen that institutions alone may not be enough to push bitcoin sharply higher without a major catalyst.