Crypto: Australia’s Asic Flags Crypto As ‘regulatory Perimeter’ Risk...
Australia’s securities regulator has bundled digital assets with AI and payments in its 2026 outlook, warning that companies exploiting licensing gray areas will be a top priority this year.
Australia's financial regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), framed new participants in emerging sectors like digital assets as a “regulatory perimeter” issue in its Key Issues Outlook 2026 paper, signaling how it intends to regulate crypto entities in the year ahead.
In the report published on Tuesday, ASIC grouped digital assets alongside payments and artificial intelligence-driven financial services, citing risks tied to unlicensed activity, misleading conduct and businesses operating at the edges of existing laws.
Instead of a warning about token adoption or crypto volatility, ASIC focused on structural risks created when emerging financial services fall outside established licensing, disclosure and conduct regimes.
The outlook also emphasized that decisions on whether new classes of crypto products should be brought within formal licensing regimes ultimately rest with the government, stating that its priority for 2026 will be maintaining clarity around licensing boundaries and strengthening oversight at the regulatory perimeter.
In the outlook, crypto appears alongside AI-powered financial services and payment platforms as part of a broader set of technology-enabled activities that challenge existing regulatory frameworks.
The regulator warned that some companies may actively seek to remain outside of regulation by exploiting unclear boundaries, contributing to what it described as regulatory uncertainty.
“Some entities will actively seek to remain outside regulation, contributing to perceived regulatory uncertainty,” ASIC wrote.
“As a result, ensuring clarity on licensing requirements and maintaining effective perimeter oversight will remain priorities for ASIC in 2026.”
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Source: CoinTelegraph
