Regulator / authority
Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
AUSTRAC DCE - AUSTRALIA
Crypto-regulated company to start business in Oceania
Quick facts
Coverage
Exchange of digital currency for fiat (and vice versa), wallet storage
Best for
Operate as a crypto exchange or as an OTC crypto desk with such a type of company easily
Local presence
Required (Australian entity)
Substance level
Medium (the company should have a local address; the director can be a foreigner or local with the necessary qualifications; a qualified compliance officer should be Australian from March 2026)
Banking friendliness
High
Who this is for
Best fit
- Hold crypto temporarily for exchange purposes
- Facilitate buy/sell transactions
- Run crypto exchange without big share capital requirements
- On-ramp and off-ramp services in one place
What you can do (scope)
- Exchange crypto ↔ fiat
- Exchange crypto ↔ crypto
- Operate a crypto brokerage
- Operate an OTC crypto desk
- Facilitate buy/sell transactions
- Hold crypto temporarily for exchange purposes
- On-ramp / off-ramp services
- Under updated regulatory guidance (Info Sheet 225), an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) may be required if certain crypto activities are treated as financial services or involve financial products under the Corporations Act.
- Dealing in digital assets that are financial products (e.g., buying/selling tokens that qualify as securities, derivatives, managed investment interests, etc.)
- Providing financial product advice in relation to digital assets
- Making a market for digital asset financial products
- Custodial or depository services for digital assets that are financial products
- Offering trading or investment infrastructure for digital asset financial products
Requirements overview
Company & presence
The legal entity should be registered in Australia, and a local Australian address should be provided. It's necessary to have an Australian-qualified director
Key persons / governance
1 shareholder, 1 director, 1 compliance officer (should be local from March 2026)
Capital / safeguarding / bonds
Minimum capital: 1 AUD
AML/CTF baseline expectations
Risk assessment and management matrix; red flag indicator sheet; AML/CTF program; client identification and verification procedures
Reporting / audits
Suspicious Matter Reports (SMR); Threshold Transaction Reports (TTR); International Funds Transfer Instructions (IFTI); Independent AML/CTF audit (key requirement); Record-keeping requirements (KYC/CDD records, AML/CTF Program versions, training records)
Process (end-to-end steps)
Step 1: Eligibility & scope mapping
Confirm your activities fall under AUSTRAC designated services and whether AFSL is also needed
Step 2: Entity setup
Register an Australian company (e.g. with ASIC) and secure a local address
Step 3: Documentation pack
Corporate documents for the legal entity (certificate of registration of a Company, share certificate, constitution, etc.); risk assessment and management matrix; red flag indicator sheet; AML/CTF program; client identification and verification procedures
Step 4: AUSTRAC registration
Submit DCE registration and respond to AUSTRAC queries
Step 5: Compliance program
Implement and maintain AML/CTF program, reporting, and record-keeping
Step 6: Ongoing compliance
Meet SMR, TTR, IFTI obligations and independent audit requirements
What's included in our support
- Advising on your AUSTRAC application
- Registration of legal entity with ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
- Preparation of corporate documents for legal entity (certificate of registration of a Company, share certificate, constitution, etc.) and AML documents (risk assessment and management matrix; red flag indicator sheet; AML/CTF program; client identification and verification procedures)
- Legal address for 1 year
- Compliance Officer as a Service
- Assistance with finding a qualified local Australian director with a directorship ID
- Guidelines for management of company with AUSTRAC
- KYC, KYT, and KYB tool advising
- Assistance with finding proper white label or Banking as a Service
- Accountant services
- Assistance with legal and financial reporting
FAQ
AUSTRAC is Australia's AML/CTF regulator supervising money services, payments, remittances, and crypto exchanges
It is a registration, not a financial services license, but it comes with strict AML/CTF obligations
Any business providing designated services, including crypto exchange, remittance, payment services, or digital currency dealings involving Australia
No. AUSTRAC does not impose minimum capital, unlike AFSL or banking licenses
Activities involving financial products (custody of financial assets, derivatives, investment advice, managed accounts) require an AFSL
Yes, but only for settlement purposes, not as deposits or savings
No. Banks perform independent due diligence, but AUSTRAC registration is a baseline requirement for banking
For basic exchange and payment services, yes. For most advanced crypto activities, AFSL will also be required
Ready made
AUSTRAC DCE - Australia·From EUR 65,000
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