AUDC granted AFSL by ASIC to provide non-cash payment facilities
AUDC Pty Ltd (AUDC), the issuer of the AUDD Australian dollar stablecoin, has been granted an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to provide non-cash payment facilities.
The licence authorises AUDC to issue and operate regulated non-cash payment facilities in Australia, reflecting the company’s established governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks. The grant follows an extensive review process by ASIC and represents a significant regulatory milestone for AUDC’s digital payments infrastructure.
Australia is moving towards an AFSL-based framework to regulate parts of the digital asset sector, with new requirements expected to be phased in over time. AUDC has moved early to secure AFSL authorisation now, so AUDD is already operating on the regulatory footing Australia is heading towards, rather than waiting for future reforms to take effect.
AUDC has operated AUDD in the market since November 2022 and has participated in multiple government-led and regulator-supported pilots exploring the role of digital money in payments and settlement, including programs involving the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre.
The AFSL does not alter AUDC’s conservative operating model. AUDD remains fully backed 1:1 by Australian dollar reserves held with tier-one financial institutions, subject to regular independent attestations. Client assets remain segregated, and AUDC does not engage in rehypothecation or proprietary use of reserves.
“This licence reflects a long-term commitment to operating within Australia’s financial regulatory framework,” said Effie Dimitropoulos, CEO and Co-Founder of AUDC. “Our focus has always been on building institutional-grade digital payment infrastructure that aligns with regulatory expectations, rather than pursuing speed or scale at the expense of governance.”
The licence positions AUDC to continue supporting regulated use cases across payments, settlement, and tokenised asset markets, while maintaining alignment with Australia’s evolving payments and digital asset policy landscape.
AUDC is a member of industry and standards bodies, including DECA and the Stablecoin Standard, and is registered with AUSTRAC and AFCA. The company continues to work closely with regulators, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners in Australia and internationally.
