Key Highlights
Ripple said it plans to secure an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) through the acquisition of BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd.
Australia’s markets regulator, ASIC, has indicated that digital-asset businesses may need to obtain AFSL authorisation by June 30, 2026, under its updated guidance and licensing posture.
Ripple said it expects the deal to close around April 1, pending customary conditions and approvals.
Ripple is preparing to expand in Australia by acquiring payments firm BC Payments Australia, a move designed to secure an AFSL ahead of tighter expectations for crypto and digital-asset businesses operating under Australia’s financial services regime.
If completed, the acquisition would allow Ripple to operate under BC Payments’ existing AFSL authorisation, providing a regulated base to expand Ripple Payments services for local clients. Ripple said the transaction is expected to close around April 1, subject to standard closing conditions.
The push comes as ASIC has updated its stance on how existing financial services laws apply to digital-asset products and services, alongside a “no-action” runway that effectively gives firms time to obtain the necessary authorisations by June 30, 2026.
Ripple has been leaning into a compliance-first expansion strategy across multiple jurisdictions. The company previously announced regulatory milestones including a DFSA licence in Dubai (2025), expanded payment activity under its Singapore MPI licence (Dec 2025), and FCA approvals for UK payments via its local unit (Jan 2026).
Ripple also received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in December 2025 for a national trust bank charter, part of a broader industry push to bring stablecoin and payments infrastructure under federal oversight.
