Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) announced on April 7, 2026 that it had obtained a financial services license from Australia’s authorities via its local business entity. The digital assets exchange stated in its update that it is the first among its competitors to acquire the Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) and is said to be authorized to support retail derivatives trading in the country.
Coinbase Australia also stated that it will now provide cryptocurrency as well as equity perpetuals to Australian traders and investors. This will now be followed by futures as well as options trading.
Coinbase further explained that they are going to try to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, digital payments, and other traditional financce products with the speed as well as efficiency of cryptocurrencies.
The AFSL now requires Coinbase Australia to follow the same conduct standards, disclosure guidelines, governance processes, as well as consumer protection rules as TradFi institutions operating across the country.
The latest authorization comes right before expected new legislation which reportedly includes that Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025. This update may require all digital assets exchanges to maintain a license.
Notably, Coinbase Australia was launched back in 2022.
It is now a key part of the so-called Digital Economy Council of Australia. And it is sharply focused on assisting with crypto regulation in the country.
Additionally, it’s further expanding its legal services, compliance-focused initiatives, marketing campaigns, as well as supporting operations teams.
It’s also worthwhile to note that Coinbase obtained conditional approval for a national trust company charter from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). This should enable continued innovation in order to integrate digital assets into TradFi ecosystems.
