Asic
Four APAC Regulators Set Overlapping Crypto Deadlines in Q2 2026
- Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea are simultaneously overhauling digital asset frameworks between April and June.
- A new FM Intelligence analysis maps the licensing, reclassification, and operational mandates converging across the region in a single quarter.
Thursday, 09/04/2026 | 06:49 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
Australia and New Zealand Sound Alarm on AI-Powered Investment Scams as Takedowns Hit Record Pace
- ASIC removed nearly 12,000 scam websites in 2025, while New Zealand's FMA flagged 190 fake trading platforms in March.
- Deepfake videos and fabricated news articles featuring politicians and bank CEOs are driving a new wave of fraud across the Asia-Pacific.
Wednesday, 08/04/2026 | 05:38 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
Binance Fined AU$10 Million in Australia as Crypto Perp Rules Tighten
- The company admitted to misclassifying clients, skirting Australia's consumer production rules.
- Australia and Europe are taking a hard stance on crypto derivatives, as the US opens up.
Friday, 27/03/2026 | 07:57 GMT by
Adonis Adoni
16% of Aussie Gen Z 'Completely Trust' AI with Financial Decisions
- Trust in social media and finfluencers for investment purposes also exceeds 50 per cent.
- The local regulator is now concerned about the growing trend of short-term crypto investments among young people, based on information on social media.
Monday, 16/03/2026 | 05:37 GMT by
Arnab Shome
$583 Million Back in Australians' Pockets: ASIC Just Had Its Most Brutal Enforcement Year Ever
- The regulator secured a record $349.8 million in civil penalties in the second half of 2025, with ANZ alone accounting for $250 million.
- Corporate misconduct complaints also surged 28%, signalling the regulator has no intention of letting up.
Wednesday, 25/02/2026 | 07:08 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
Sarah Court Named ASIC's New Chair as Women Take Control of Australia's Economic Watchdogs
- The appointment comes as enforcement actions surge and the regulator tackles record penalties against financial misconduct.
- Court brings 13 years of enforcement experience from her tenure at Australia's competition regulator before joining ASIC in 2021.
Tuesday, 03/02/2026 | 07:15 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
Former GAIN Capital and Invast Director Pleads Guilty in $181,000 Fraud Case
- The finance executive admits to handling suspected proceeds from crypto investment scams.
- Now, he faces up to one year in jail after admitting he dealt with funds linked to schemes targeting Australian investors.
Tuesday, 27/01/2026 | 06:55 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
eToro Dominates Australia’s CFD Market – Where Trader Loyalty Rarely Survives a Year
- ASIC revealed that 119,300 clients traded CFDs per quarter in fiscal year 2024, a 76 per cent drop from before leverage restrictions were imposed in March 2021.
- Eighty-four per cent of options CFD traders lost money, but the regulator is unsure who is fit to trade these products.
Wednesday, 21/01/2026 | 08:30 GMT by
Arnab Shome
Aussie CFD Traders Got About $27 Million in Refunds After Regulatory Intervention
- ASIC’s action came after it found that more than half of local CFD issuers were offering “margin discounts” and breaching other mandatory obligations.
- Aussie retail CFD traders lost over AU$458 million (US$308.3 million) in 2024.
Tuesday, 20/01/2026 | 04:53 GMT by
Arnab Shome
Aussie Regulator Ramps Up Pump-and-Dump Scheme Warning after Conviction of Four
- Four individuals were running pump-and-dump schemes through Telegram groups.
- Regulators from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America recently discussed the threat posed by such market manipulation.
Monday, 22/12/2025 | 05:40 GMT by
Arnab Shome
ASX Faces $150M Capital Charge After Scathing Inquiry Finds Years of Neglect
- Australia's stock exchange operator must overhaul its governance and raise additional capital following a damning inquiry.
- The reforms include independent boards for clearing units to address “serious shortcomings” in risk management and culture.
Monday, 15/12/2025 | 07:21 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
FXCM Australia Offered CFDs to "Medium Risk Appetite" Investors: Faces Stop Order
- ASIC issued the interim stop order against the FXCM operator for a breach of the target market determination under the design and distribution obligations.
- The broker can neither issue CFDs to retail clients nor open trading accounts for new retail clients until the stop order, with a 21-day validity, expires or is revoked.
Friday, 05/12/2025 | 05:05 GMT by
Arnab Shome
CFD Educator Learn to Trade’s Compliance Failure Pushes Aussie Regulator to Take Action
- Learn to Trade allegedly failed to submit its financial statements for two consecutive years on time, and also did not inform the regulator about the new auditor appointment.
- ASIC now wants an independent compliance consultant to review the company’s “procedures and frameworks.”
Tuesday, 25/11/2025 | 05:26 GMT by
Arnab Shome
ASIC Makes “Reporting Misconduct” a Priority: An Alarm for CFD Brokers?
- “Financial reporting misconduct” is among the ten priorities for the regulator in 2026.
- “We’re doing more investigations, taking more matters to court, and securing record penalties,” says ASIC’s Deputy Chair.
Thursday, 13/11/2025 | 05:34 GMT by
Arnab Shome
Aussie Regulator Granted 290 New AFS Licences in FY25, While Curbing 215 Others
- The number of new AFS licence applications with the regulator jumped by 10 per cent last year.
- “Applications from digital asset operators are on the rise, underscoring the growing interest in the crypto sector,” said the ASIC Commissioner.
Monday, 10/11/2025 | 05:17 GMT by
Arnab Shome
ASIC Warns Fake Moneysmart Pages Harvest Investor Details
- Australian regulators have identified fraudulent copies of the government's financial education website.
- Scammers pressure victims with urgency tactics and promises of high returns from small deposits.
Thursday, 16/10/2025 | 07:59 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
ASIC Removes Nearly 7,000 Scam Sites as Enforcement Actions Jump 50%
- Australia's financial regulator secured over $120 million in court-ordered penalties during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
- The agency launched 252 investigations and completed 829 targeted surveillances as part of an operational overhaul.
Wednesday, 08/10/2025 | 06:24 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
Cboe Gets Green Light to Break ASX's Grip on Australian Market
- The ASIC approval allows an alternative exchange to host IPOs and company listings for the first time.
- The move aims to increase options for companies seeking capital and boost investment opportunities for local investors.
Tuesday, 07/10/2025 | 06:12 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
ASIC Traps Investment Boss in Australia as $8M Bond Scam Unravels
- One scammed retiree reportedly lost $750,000 after investing what he believed were legitimate Macquarie and UBS bonds.
- In reality, however, no transactions most likely took place.
- The most concerning aspect is that, despite the alleged fraud, the perpetrators held ASIC authorization.
Tuesday, 23/09/2025 | 05:39 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
$53M Investor Cash Allegedly Lost To Gambling In Aussie Fund Scandal
- Federal court extends asset preservation orders amid ASIC investigation into suspected misuse of investor funds.
- Director Gregory Cotton must disclose financial details as the regulator probes missing investments.
Thursday, 11/09/2025 | 05:53 GMT by
Damian Chmiel
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