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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cryptocurrencies aren’t ‘currency’, says RBA
The Reserve Bank of Australia has reiterated its attack on cryptocurrencies, questioning their purpose and pointing to the lack of demand from the finance industry. Speaking in Sydney at the ASIC Annual Forum 2018, RBA assistant governor Michele Bullock said she “object[s] to the term ‘cryptocurrency’”. “It isn’t currency. They’re not currencies. You can’t use them, typically, to make payments,” she said. “They don’t store value, and they’re not a unit of account. The name’s a misnomer to begin with.” Ms Bullock pointed out the fact that the RBA did already have electronic Australian dollars, called eAUD or ‘exchange settlement accounts’, but that this was restricted to banks needing to […]
Digital Currency market in Australia grows as trading on crypto-exchanges tops AU $3.9 Billion in 2017
Australia’s digital currency market is booming. This is according to a report by the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA) and Accenture that tallied the numbers for 2017. During the year, over AU $3.9 billion was traded on cryptocurrency exchanges with more than 300,000 active traders. Unsurprisingly, Accenture / ADCA said the majority of traders were under the age of 40. Even more telling is the information that 40 percent of cryptocurrency customers are aged 18 to 29. The most popular digital currency was Bitcoin with AU$1.86 in volume followed by Ethereum with AU $712 million in trading. The research also revealed that crypto is creating jobs. Employment across the cryptocurrency […]
Twitter CEO: Bitcoin will be the world’s ‘single currency’ in 10 years
Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey apparently has big visions for bitcoin, commenting in a recent interview with The Times that he believes that the cryptocurrency will become the world’s single currency within 10 years. According to Dorsey, “The world ultimately will have a single currency, the internet will have a single currency. I personally believe that it will be bitcoin.” Dorsey went on to say that the transition would happen “probably over ten years, but it could go faster,” which seems like an extremely unrealistic projection, even considering cryptocurrency’s meteoric rise in popularity over the past few months. That Dorsey is a fan of bitcoin isn’t too surprising, though. […]
How crypto currently looks in Australia
Australian crypto investors are like any others: long-term investors, short-term traders, and true believers who want currency beyond control of central banks. WHY ARE AUSTRALIANS BUYING CRYPTOCURRENCIES? Some are long-term investors, others are short-term traders, and some are true believers who want currency to be beyond the control of governments and central banks. All are hoping the value of Bitcoin (or their chosen asset) will appreciate over time as they become more readily accepted. WHY DO AUSTRALIANS NEED USE AUSTRALIAN EXCHANGES? Most people buy their first Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptocurrency using their day-to-day currency. If you hold Australian dollars and want to buy your first cryptocurrency, you need to […]
International transfer provider OFX launches developer portal with international payments API
ASX listed foreign currency exchange company OFX (formerly OzForex) today announced the launch of a developer portal.
