ASIC Issues Regulatory Guidance on Crypto Products

The Australian financial markets regulator has issued guidelines and requirements on Friday for the launch of crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) and other investment products that could result in the listing of cryptocurrency instruments on the country’s stock exchanges in the coming months.

The regulator has added a new ‘crypto-asset’ category on its licensing application that will give legitimacy to the cryptocurrency service providers.

The guidelines did not come as a surprise as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been consulting on the same since June. It came after growing interest among Australian market participants for the launch of such crypto products.

“Crypto-assets have unique characteristics and risks that must be considered by product issuers and market operators in meeting their existing regulatory obligations,” said the ASIC Commissioner, Cathie Armour.

Good Market Practices

The new guidelines primarily give instructions on admission and monitoring standards, custody of crypto-assets, pricing methodologies, disclosure and Risk Management Risk Management One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, Read this Term. All of these requirements are covered under market good practices.

In addition, the regulator stressed the requirements of cryptocurrency custody and said that the best way to store private keys is by keeping them on cold storage, meaning in wallets that are not connected to the internet. Moreover, the companies need to make numerous backups and store them in separate geographical locations.

Armour added: “The good practices we published provide practical examples of how these obligations may be met, in a way that maintains investor protections and Australia’s fair, orderly and transparent markets.”

ASIC’s present criteria fit only Bitcoin and Ethereum. But, the agency is expecting that the number of Cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrencies By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw Read this Term fitting its criteria will increase over time.

Earlier, the Australian regulator issued a warning against unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges that offer services to Australians, counting the risks of investing crypto futures and options on offshore platforms.