Australians Receive Major Crypto Warning from Top Regulator

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recently issued new warnings regarding cryptocurrencies in Australia ahead of new federal government laws that are expected to come into effect.

These warnings emphasize the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, which the industry watchdog has criticized as being “created out of nothing.”

Last year, Joseph Longo, the chair of the ASIC, has warned investors against placing all their funds into cryptocurrencies.

Longo stressed the difficulty in supervising the industry, with many projects not classified as financial products, and drew attention to the increasing incidence of crypto-related scams in Australia.

Recent regulatory developments

In October, it was reported that Australia plans to introduce draft legislation by 2024 for a new licensing regime for crypto exchanges, focusing on licensing and custody rules. This move, expected to be implemented by 2025, marks a significant step towards establishing crypto regulation in the country.

In 2023, Australia updated its capital gains tax guidance to include wrapped tokens and interactions with decentralized finance protocols. Investors are now required to report capital gains and losses whenever a digital asset.

Binance’s woes in Australia

Meanwhile, the Australian Financial Review review reports that Binance’s downfall was significantly influenced by the ASIC canceling the company’s licenses.

Binance struggled with regulatory compliance, which was a key factor in its troubles. Jeff Yew, the young CEO of Binance Australia, tried to work with regulators but clashed with Zhao over compliance issues, which led to his resignation.

Binance’s derivatives business in Australia was highly successful, but this did not translate into ample funding or stability for the Australian team.

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