Currency

Apr
18

AUSTRAC registers two more cryptocurrency exchanges

Two more Australian cryptocurrency exchanges have been registered by AUSTRAC under rules that came into effect earlier this month. NCX and ACX.io join Independent Reserve and CoinSpot in complying with the same anti money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML-CTF) rules that apply to other finance sector participants such as banks. Perth-based National Currency eXchange (NCX) said in a statement that it “confirms its compliance program will keep it in alignment with its AML-CTF obligations”. “The completion of this registration allows NCX to continue to provide trading services in popular cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, with further cryptocurrencies and upcoming ICOs to be added to the exchange […]

DETAIL
Apr
16

The future of money relies on digital

by Carlo Lacota, Head of Banking and Financial Services, ANZ at Cognizant   The era of digital disruption has brought new challenges involving security, privacy, and technology access. It is therefore imperative for financial services providers to take stock and consider how to deepen their customer relationships.   The inability to capitalise on the opportunity that digital brings to attract and retain customers will increase churn velocity and further increase cost as customer retention costs far less than acquisition.   Our relationship with money is broken  A recent global study by Cognizant revealed that people’s relationship with money is broken, with over half of the study respondents saying money and […]

DETAIL
Apr
12

Solving the problem of accessing money overseas

With big plans to disrupt the international payments industry, Australian fintech start-up Pelikin is looking to cash in on our dissatisfaction with the banks. Sam Brown’s own difficulties in accessing his funds while travelling in Europe and Asia inspired him to found Pelikin in 2015 with the goal of first becoming a multi-currency debit travel card provider. Pelikin is preparing to launch its beta service, with plans to open registration to the public around the middle of the year. Having relied on seed funding to date, the Australian start-up plans to take advantage of equity crowdfunding to support its next growth spurt. The Pelikin debit card will be accompanied by […]

DETAIL
Apr
06

How Fintech is changing the way we do business?

Although it seems ubiquitous, Fintech is actually still a very young industry. That said, there are certainly distinctly common threads across those within it, which could largely be considered increased accessibility, and speed. Fintech is responsible for the introduction and rise of peer-to-peer payments, mobile banking, and omnichannel payments processing which benefit not only individuals but also businesses. We’re living, working, shopping, and transacting in the internet era, so it’s expected that the way we do businesses is equally as nimble – and it’s Fintech that makes this possible. Regardless of the size of a business, keeping up to date with financial technology is imperative for not only increased efficiencies […]

DETAIL
Apr
05

Australia rolls out new AML/CTF laws for digital currency exchange providers

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has announced that digital currency exchange (DCE) providers would be required to meet Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations, effective 3 April 2018. AUSTRAC is Australia’s financial intelligence agency with regulatory responsibility for AML/CTF. “A ‘policy principles’ period of six months will be in place from 3 April 2018. During that period, the AUSTRAC CEO can only take enforcement action if a DCE business fails to take ‘reasonable steps’ to comply,” AUSTRAC said. Under the new AML/CTF laws, DCE providers would be required to: Adopt and maintain and AML/CTF program to identify, mitigate and manage money laundering and terrorism financing […]

DETAIL
Apr
05

This Australian fintech leader says cryptos won’t replace traditional currencies in ‘another three lifetimes’

The value of bitcoin lies in its use as a finite commodity protected by rock-solid cryptography, rather than a currency used to buy goods and services, according to Loretta Joseph, chair of the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA). Joseph spoke to Business Insider following reports that Australian crypto trading exchanges must now comply with standards set out by financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC. The announcement followed an 18-month consultation period between AUSTRAC and the ADCA.“We have defined crypto as a commodity,” Joseph said. “It’s not a currency for use as a means of exchange.” “There was recently a key legal case in New York which defined bitcoin as a commodity. So […]

DETAIL
Apr
04

First Australian digital currency exchange regulated: Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve, the Australian digital currency exchange, yesterday became the first Australian exchange of its kind to be regulated. Independent Reserve is the first exchange to be regulated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). Set up in 1989, AUSTRAC ensures Australian institutions conform to the required standards around Counter-Terrorism Financing and Know Your Customer rules. CEO Adrian Przelozny said the regulation represented a huge leap forward for the local digital currency industry. “We have been lobbying for increased regulation since we opened for business in 2014,” he said. “We passionately believe that the digital currency economy will – and should – become just another part of the mainstream […]

DETAIL
Apr
03

Cryptocurrency owners must be aware of tax changes

Changes to Australia’s anti-money laundering rules have come into effect today, and will see cryptocurrency exchanges and transactions more susceptible to the scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), according to HLB Mann Judd’s Peter Bembrick. Bembrick, tax partner at HLB Mann Judd Sydney, said the rules would catch cryptocurrency owners by surprise, and ignorance is not a defence for failing to pay the appropriate tax. Bembrick said to avoid falling foul of the ATO, cryptocurrency owners should know that the ATO teats cryptocurrency as an asset for tax purposes, and, as such, the price in Australian dollars will change over time. There is also a taxable capital gain when […]

DETAIL