The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has published its strategic priorities, placing a strong emphasis on addressing risks that operate at the edge of the conventional regulatory perimeter. Identified as high-priority areas of concern are cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and emerging digital payment platforms. ASIC highlights that these sectors present unique challenges to market integrity and consumer protection due to their rapid development and frequent operation outside existing licensing frameworks.
Cryptocurrency remains a primary focus due to inherent asset volatility and the high incidence of consumer harm observed, often stemming from unlicensed advice or access to offshore platforms targeting Australian investors. ASIC intends to increase surveillance and enforcement action against crypto entities that fail to comply with existing financial services laws, seeking clarity on how decentralized structures can be managed under traditional regulatory mandates.
Similarly, the rapid integration of AI across financial services, from automated advice to predictive trading algorithms, poses significant risks related to algorithmic fairness, bias, and the accountability of automated decision-making. ASIC is monitoring how AI systems affect market efficiency and whether they introduce systemic vulnerabilities.
Finally, the evolution of digital payments infrastructure, including certain Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) models and embedded finance solutions, is creating regulatory gaps. The Commission seeks to ensure that technological innovation does not undermine responsible lending obligations or introduce unnecessary financial instability. By flagging these areas, ASIC signals its intent to allocate substantial supervisory and enforcement resources to close the gaps in the regulatory perimeter and safeguard consumer trust in Australian financial markets.
Source: Australia’s ASIC flags crypto as ‘regulatory perimeter’ risk alongside AI, payments
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