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Australia first in the world to review crypto reforms: what this means for your investment
The federal government will carry out a comprehensive review of the regulatory practices required to oversee developments and provide adequate consumer protections for Australia’s burgeoning cryptocurrency industry.
In a statement released this week federal treasurer Jim Chalmers revealed that the government will perform a “token mapping” analysis, with the aim of instituting a regulatory and licensing framework for crypto assets and related services, as well as establishing consumer safeguards.
The review will also assess innovative organisational structures and scrutinise custody obligations for third party custodians of cryptocurrencies, such as digital exchanges and hot wallet services.
“This hasn’t been done anywhere else in the world, so it will make Australia leaders in this work,” Chalmers said.
“With the increasingly widespread proliferation of crypto assets - to the extent that crypto advertisements can be seen plastered all over big sporting events - we need to make sure customers engaging with crypto are adequately informed and protected.”
The newly-elected Labor government has been criticised for its lack of crypto-focused policies. This forthcoming review advances its pledge earlier this year to overhaul the digital payments system.
Chalmers affirmed that stakeholder consultations were underway and a public consultation paper on token mapping will be released soon.
Urgent need for consumer protections
Those reluctant to invest in the cryptocurrency industry cite intense volatility, reluctant real-world adoption and high-risk exposure issues as rationale for their hesitancy.
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) doesn’t recognise cryptocurrencies as financial products and therefore have little to no capacity to protect investors against oft-encountered pitfalls such fraud and scams.
More than half of all financial losses to scams that occurred during the first four months of this year were attributed to investment scams involving cryptocurrency, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch.
Prices plunged this year, compelling market analysts to declare a “crypto winter”. Despite this latest downturn, digital currency markets remain popular and continue to attract new investors.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) estimates that more than one million taxpayers have interacted in some way with the largely unregulated crypto asset ecosystem since 2018.
Australia’s big four banks have varying views when it comes to the advancement of the cryptocurrency industry and their level of participation.
The U.S. Treasury Department published a fact sheet earlier this month mapping out ways the government can work with foreign regulators to address risks and harness potential benefits of digital assets and blockchain technology.
If you’re sceptical or unsure about buying in, you might find our cryptocurrency guide useful. Perhaps you’re interested in assets other than Bitcoin? Consider these six alternative cryptocurrencies.
Not interested in cryptocurrency investment? How about the nouveau market for cryptoart?
Before investing in cryptocurrencies, equities, or any other assets, it may be sensible to seek financial advice to determine the best options for your financial situation and goals.
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Swyftx
Cryptocurrencies available: 245
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CoinJar
Cryptocurrencies available: 57
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD, GBP
Trading Fee: 0%-1%
Withdrawal Fee: No fee for AUD or GBP withdrawals. Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees are based on blockchain network fees
Deposit Fees: No fees with PayID; 2% fee with credit / debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Australia's longest-running cryptocurrency exchange with over 500,000 Australian customers and a simple to use app for both iOS and Android.
Digital Surge
Cryptocurrencies available: 245
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.1%-0.5% based on a rolling 30 day trading volume.
Withdrawal Fee: None for Australian bank accounts - Instant withdrawals through Osko/PayID.
Deposit Fees: No fees for Osko/PayID, Direct Deposit, Bank Transfers or cryptocurrency. POLi fees range from $2-$3.30.
Because simplicity makes life better. The easiest way for Australians to buy, sell & store over 245+ cryptocurrencies. Low fees, tight spreads, Aussie-based customer support & an interface that makes crypto enjoyable & easy-to-understand. Simple. Safe. Stress-free.
CoinSpot
Cryptocurrencies available: 263
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.1% to 1% based on order type
Withdrawal Fee: None for Australian Bank Accounts
Deposit Fees: No fees for POLi, PayID, Direct Deposit and Bank Transfers. 0.9% BPAY fee, 2.5% cash fee
Australia’s most trusted exchange since 2013.
Cointree
Cryptocurrencies available: 280+
Fiat Currencies Accepted: AUD
Trading Fee: 0.05%-0.9%
Withdrawal Fee: No fee with fiat withdrawals. Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees vary.
Deposit Fees: No fee
Buy, sell, trade and pay with crypto. Simple, low fees, easy to use and trusted by 100,000+ members. Enjoy $10 BTC credit after verification with promo code: RATE10
This information does not reflect any ranking, rating, recommendation or endorsement by RateCity of cryptocurrency or any specific provider. RateCity is providing factual information supplied by providers. Not all providers or products are shown. RateCity will earn a fee from the providers displayed in the table (if a link to the provider's website is shown), and the fee levels determine placement in the table. Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and can involve significant risks. RateCity is not providing a recommendation for your individual circumstances.
Product database updated 17 Apr, 2024
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