• Crypto firms offering financial products must obtain an AFSL by 30 June.
• Bitcoin and NFTs are said to be excluded from the financial product category.
• The Treasury has finished consultations on new crypto legislation.

Australia has tightened its regulatory framework for digital assets, introducing updated guidelines that define how crypto service providers will be classified and licensed.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced revisions to its Information Sheet 225.

Firms offering services tied to financial products will now need to apply for an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) and join the Australian Financial Complaints Authority by June 30.

The updated document aims to streamline compliance requirements, strengthen investor protection, and bring digital asset providers under the same regulatory standards as traditional financial institutions.

This marks a significant shift in Australia’s approach to overseeing crypto-related businesses and ensuring greater market transparency.

The move aims to bring greater oversight to the rapidly evolving crypto industry while maintaining flexibility for tokens like Bitcoin, which will not be treated as financial products under the new guidance.

Bitcoin excluded, but stablecoins under scrutiny

Under the revised guidelines, ASIC clarified that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, gaming non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and tokenised event tickets do not fall under the financial product category.

However, stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities, and yield-bearing products like staking services and tokenised real estate will require licensing.

ASIC also confirmed in-principle regulatory relief for stablecoin and wrapped token distributors to help transition into compliance ahead of broader legislative reforms.

The updated framework outlines that services offering financial returns or lock-up periods will be classified as financial products, ensuring investors in yield-based assets are protected under existing finance laws.

Industry welcomes clarity but warns of implementation challenges

The update has been broadly welcomed across the blockchain sector for providing long-awaited clarity.

Industry groups and legal experts said the move provides visibility on ASIC’s approach to regulating the digital asset ecosystem.

However, they warned that the transition could create logistical hurdles due to limited local expertise, banking restrictions, and insurance access.

Blockchain APAC’s CEO noted that ASIC’s approach of implementing policy ahead of final legislation brings short-term certainty but also leaves room for interpretation.

These “structural bottlenecks,” including resource and compliance constraints, could shift risks from legal to operational levels if not addressed promptly.

Transition underway as crypto firms prepare for licensing

Industry players are now restructuring their operations to align with the new rules.

The Digital Economy Council of Australia called the update a significant step toward mainstream regulation but expressed concern about ASIC’s capacity to process a large volume of licensing applications in time.

The move follows the Albanese government’s proposal in March for a unified framework that places crypto exchanges under existing financial services laws.

The Treasury concluded consultations last week on draft legislation that would formalise this transition, further aligning Australia’s crypto oversight with global regulatory trends.

The update marks a turning point for Australia’s digital asset market, setting a roadmap for compliance while signalling the government’s intention to balance innovation with investor protection.

The post Australia tightens crypto rules: check out all the details appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Mt. Gox extends Bitcoin repayment deadline to Oct 2026 amid ongoing administrative hurdles.
• Once the top Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox’s collapse in 2014 led to the loss of 850,000 BTC.
• Arkham data shows holdings now down 75% to 34,690 BTC.

Mt. Gox, once the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange, has delayed repayments to its creditors until October 2026 — extending a saga that began more than a decade ago.

The announcement, made just days before its previous deadline of October 31, 2025, reflects ongoing administrative and technical challenges in finalising payments.

While many creditors who submitted paperwork have received partial repayments, a significant number are still waiting for their funds.

The Tokyo District Court approved the extension after the trustee cited the need for additional time to process remaining claims and complete settlements efficiently.

Delayed Bitcoin repayments extended to 2026

According to the latest notice, the Mt. Gox rehabilitation trustee confirmed that most base, early lump-sum, and intermediate repayments have been processed for creditors who completed the required steps.

However, repayments for others remain pending.

The trustee explained that it was “desirable to make the repayments to such rehabilitation creditors to the extent reasonably practicable,” leading the court to approve a new deadline of October 31, 2026.

This marks another chapter in one of the cryptocurrency industry’s longest-running recovery efforts.

Mt. Gox, which once handled over 70% of the world’s Bitcoin trading volume, collapsed in 2014 after a massive hack led to the loss of approximately 850,000 BTC.

The company subsequently filed for bankruptcy in Japan.

How the Mt. Gox collapse reshaped Bitcoin history

When Mt. Gox failed, the exchange’s bankruptcy shook investor confidence in digital assets and exposed vulnerabilities in early crypto infrastructure.

About 200,000 BTC were later recovered, but 650,000 BTC remain missing.

The recovery process transitioned into a court-supervised civil rehabilitation in Japan, during which a trustee began redistributing recovered Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) in 2024.

At the time of its collapse, Mt. Gox’s influence was unmatched.

The incident not only caused a sharp decline in Bitcoin prices but also prompted tighter regulatory oversight in key markets.

In the years since, it has become a landmark case in crypto regulation, bankruptcy law, and investor protection — shaping how global exchanges handle custody and insurance.

Market impact and sell-off concerns

With repayments scheduled to continue into 2026, traders and analysts have debated whether the eventual release of thousands of Bitcoin could trigger selling pressure.

Historically, such fears have surfaced each time Mt. Gox announced repayment progress.

However, recent on-chain data suggests that these effects may be limited.

According to Arkham Intelligence, Mt. Gox currently holds 34,690 BTC worth nearly $4 billion, down from about 142,000 BTC in mid-2024 — a decline of more than 75%.

Analysts tracking these wallets have noted that even large movements from the exchange have had only short-term effects on Bitcoin’s market price, indicating that most creditors are choosing to hold rather than sell immediately.

What’s next for creditors and the crypto market

The trustee’s revised timeline means that full repayments could now take another year, extending the wait for thousands of claimants worldwide.

For many early Bitcoin investors, the repayments represent not only financial recovery but also closure on one of crypto’s most notorious events.

Still, the Mt. Gox story continues to serve as a cautionary tale for digital asset investors.

It underscores the importance of secure custody, transparent operations, and regulatory compliance — principles that have since become standard practice across global crypto exchanges.

The post Mt. Gox delays Bitcoin repayments again as creditors await full settlement appeared first on CoinJournal.