Coinbase has secured an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), positioning the exchange to broaden its product range in the country beyond cryptocurrency trading. The company intends to initially offer crypto and equity perpetuals, with plans to expand into futures, options, and other conventional financial instruments. The move signals an ambition to challenge established financial services providers on their own ground.
John O’Loghlen, regional managing director for APAC at Coinbase, says the exchange aims to compete directly with traditional financial services in areas such as stock trading and payments. “We’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto,” O’Loghlen said. Holding an AFSL subjects Coinbase to the same standards of conduct, disclosure, governance, and consumer protection that apply to conventional financial services firms.
The licensing development coincides with a significant regulatory milestone in Australia. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 passed both houses of the Australian Parliament on April 1 and is currently awaiting royal assent, the final step before it becomes law. The legislation is set to take effect 12 months after receiving assent, establishing a dedicated regulatory framework for digital assets in the country.
O’Loghlen has expressed support for the regulatory direction, stating that thoughtful regulation benefits customers, the industry, and Australia’s goal of becoming a leading digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region. In February, crypto executives including O’Loghlen noted that Australia’s crypto market is progressing in terms of user growth and regulatory reform, though several issues remain to be resolved. Coinbase has also been growing its local team with senior appointments across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations, drawing talent from other regulated industries.
Cryptocurrency adoption in Australia continues to rise, according to data from Independent Reserve‘s Cryptocurrency Index. The index estimates that 33% of Australians now have exposure to cryptocurrency, up from 31% the previous year, across a population of more than 27.7 million. The data also indicates that a growing number of people are using cryptocurrency to pay for goods and services compared with the prior year.
Coinbase has been active in the Australian market beyond retail trading. In September, the exchange and competitor OKX introduced services for self-managed superannuation funds, giving individuals new avenues to incorporate crypto into the country’s retirement savings system. Australia’s total superannuation assets were estimated at approximately 4.5 trillion Australian dollars, equivalent to around $3.1 trillion, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the scale of the opportunity for crypto-related financial products in the sector.
Originally reported by CoinTelegraph.
