US EditionAustralia’s finance watchdog to crack down on dormant crypto exchanges
- AUSTRAC, Australia's financial intelligence agency, began cracking down on inactive crypto exchanges on April 29, 2025, targeting 427 registered platforms.
- AUSTRAC suspected many crypto exchanges were no longer operating and urged these dormant businesses to voluntarily withdraw registrations to avoid misuse by criminals.
- The agency has started contacting inactive exchanges and may cancel registrations if it reasonably believes the business ceased trading, publishing cancellations publicly.
- AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas warned criminals exploit inactive registrations to appear legitimate and emphasized "use it or lose it" to protect consumer trust and sector integrity.
- The crackdown aims to reduce fraud risks in the crypto sector by making a publicly searchable register available and limiting criminal access to dormant exchanges.
This story is only covered by news sources that have yet to be evaluated by the independent media monitoring agencies we use to assess the quality and reliability of news outlets on our platform. Learn more here.19 Articles
19 Articles
AUSTRAC to Cancel Registrations of Inactive Crypto Exchanges
Around a quarter of Australia's 400-plus registered digital currency exchanges are believed to be inactive, and at risk of being co-opted by criminals. To continue reading... Sign in Password * Remember me Lost your password? Subscribe Subscribe to Regulation Asia to gain access to APAC’s leading platform for news, analysis, research and verified data on financial regulation. Select Mo…
‘Surfing Is Freedom. So Is Crypto’: Binance Australia Signs Jack Robinson In First-Ever Crypto-Surfing Sponsorship
In a move that signals a bold new chapter for both surfing and cryptocurrency, Binance Australia has announced a historic partnership with Olympic medalist and surfing superstar Jack Robinson — making him the first Australian surfer to be backed by a major cryptocurrency exchange. In an exclusive interview with B&T, James Quinn-Kumar, director of community […]
Use It or Lose It': AUSTRAC Warns Inactive Crypto Exchanges – Regulation Bitcoin News
AUSTRAC is cracking down on inactive digital asset exchanges, urging them to voluntarily withdraw their registrations or face forced cancellation to prevent criminal exploitation. Significant Proportion of 427 Registered Exchanges Inactive Australia’s AUSTRAC is taking decisive action against inactive digital asset exchanges, urging them to voluntarily withdraw their registrations or risk forced cancellation. The agency […]
OKX’s Kate Cooper on Regulation, Adoption, and What Comes Next
Australia’s crypto moment is here, but it’s far from settled. Despite boasting one of the highest per-capita adoption rates globally, the country sits at a crossroads — with regulators, exchanges, and users all shaping what comes next. OKX’s Australian expansion arrives in the thick of this tension, betting that local trust, compliance, and infrastructure will define the market’s next chapter. At the helm is Kate Cooper, a seasoned leader who ha…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- There is no tracked Bias information for the sources covering this story.
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
