AUSTRAC made a genuinely useful change for everyday crypto users this year: its register of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) — the businesses registered under Australia's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing rules — became publicly searchable on 30 June 2026.
What the register actually is
Previously, checking whether a crypto business was properly registered with AUSTRAC wasn't something the public could easily do directly. The now-public register lists VASPs registered and regulated in Australia, in AUSTRAC's own words improving transparency and helping people identify legitimate businesses before using their services.
Why this matters right now
This launch follows a broader 2026 shift in how Australia regulates crypto businesses: since 31 March 2026, the older "digital currency exchange" registration category was replaced by the broader "virtual asset service provider" definition, capturing a wider range of business models. A public register is a natural, useful companion to that expanded scope — it turns a compliance requirement into something an ordinary user can actually act on.
How to use it before signing up
- Search the exact legal or trading name of the platform you're considering
- Don't stop at a badge or claim on the provider's own marketing page — confirm it against the register itself
- Remember a registration status can change over time, so check again close to when you actually sign up
- Treat this as one factor among several — see the next section
What it doesn't tell you
Registration on AUSTRAC's VASP register is an AML/CTF compliance status. It is not a safety rating, not an ASIC financial-product licence, and not a government endorsement of the platform's quality or financial soundness.
For what registration does and doesn't actually guarantee, see our fuller explainer on what AUSTRAC registration means. For the separate question of financial-services licensing, see our piece on ASIC's 2026 digital-asset licensing deadline.
The bigger picture
A public register is a meaningful step toward making Australia's crypto regulatory environment easier for ordinary users to navigate — but it works best as one input into a broader decision, alongside fees, security practices and how you actually plan to use an exchange. See our full exchange-selection guide for the rest of that picture.
We haven't independently confirmed the current register status of every provider mentioned on this site as part of writing this article — always check the live register yourself before relying on registration status.