Coinbase obtained an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) through its local subsidiary.
The license will allow the exchange to significantly expand its offerings in the country.
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According to Coinbase Asia-Pacific Regional Managing Director John O’Loghlen, the company will start with crypto and equity perpetuals. In the future, it plans to add futures, options, and other traditional financial products.
“We’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto,” O’Loghlen said.
Regulatory Context
Obtaining the AFSL places Coinbase under the same conduct, disclosure, management, and consumer protection standards that apply to traditional financial companies.
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The license arrives shortly before the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 takes effect. That law will require all crypto platforms in Australia to hold an AFSL.
The bill has passed both houses of parliament and awaits royal assent. After enactment, companies will have 12 months to obtain a license.
Expansion Plans in Australia
Coinbase is actively growing its local team, hiring specialists in legal, compliance, marketing, and operations. The exchange previously launched services for self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF), allowing Australians to include cryptocurrency in their retirement savings.
According to the Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index, approximately 33% of Australia’s population (roughly 9.1 million out of 27.7 million people) own cryptocurrency. The use of crypto assets for everyday payments is also growing.
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