Zodia Custody has announced its expansion into supporting AUDM, marking it as the first global custodian to offer secure storage for Australia’s inaugural licensed stablecoin. This move, revealed on January 8, 2026, in Sydney, underscores the growing integration of regulated stablecoins into mainstream finance. Zodia Custody, a so-called institution-focused digital assets platform, now provides cold-storage custody for AUDM, ensuring security and regulatory compliance for its clients.
AUDM is an Australian dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Macropod, which holds the distinction of being the nation’s licensed stablecoin issuer under an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).
Backed one-to-one by AUD reserves, AUDM serves as a programmable settlement asset, facilitating tokenised payments, on-chain financial instruments, and efficient cross-border transactions.
This stablecoin aims to bridge traditional finance and crypto-native operations, enabling real-time settlements and capital-efficient treasury management.
The partnership between Zodia Custody and Macropod follows the latter’s participation in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Project Acacia, a pilot program exploring stablecoin use cases in financial markets.
Macropod recently listed AUDM on Independent Reserve, an Australian crypto exchange, further solidifying its market presence.
Zodia Custody’s involvement enhances this ecosystem by offering institutional-grade custody, which is crucial as stablecoins gain traction in conventional financial infrastructure.
Zodia Custody’s backing seemingly adds credibility to this initiative. Its shareholders include global financial services providers such as Standard Chartered, Northern Trust, SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD.
This update positions Zodia as a key player in digital asset tech advancements, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where demand for secure crypto solutions is surging.
Ryan Hodges, Managing Director for Australia at Zodia Custody, emphasized the strategic importance of this development:
“By becoming the first custodian to support Australia’s first regulated stablecoin, we are providing institutions with the infrastructure they need to confidently participate in the evolution of programmable finance, enabling real-time settlement, tokenised cash instruments, and capital-efficient treasury operations.
Drew Bradford, CEO of Macropod (also known as Catena Digital), stated:
“This integration reinforces the importance of institutional-grade custody especially as stablecoins move into mainstream financial infrastructure.”
For businesses, this means more cost-effective transactions without the volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies.
Industry professionals anticipate that such custodianship will encourage more traditional institutions to explore digital assets.
With Australia‘s progressive stance on crypto regulation, including recent AFSL approvals, the AUDM-Zodia partnership could pave the way for similar initiatives globally.
This update highlights how regulated stablecoins are becoming essential tools for modern finance, blending the reliability of fiat money rails with the efficiency of web3 and blockchain technology.
Zodia Custody’s support for AUDM represents a milestone in digital asset custody, fostering greater confidence among institutions and accelerating the shift toward programmable money.
