ASIC Raises Low-Volume Market Exemption by 67% to A$2.5…

AI summary of the source article

ASIC has updated its low-volume market licensing relief through ASIC Corporations Instrument 2026/756, raising the 12-month completed transaction value ceiling from A$1.5 million to A$2.5 million. The transaction volume threshold remains strictly capped at 100 completed trades, and operators must satisfy both limits to qualify. ASIC cited inflation since 2016 for the revision, which allows an average trade size of up to A$25,000 for operators using the full trade allowance. The relief applies solely to Australian market licences and does not exempt firms from other requirements, such as Australian Financial Services or clearing and settlement facility licences. The new instrument remains in effect until 1 October 2031.

Why it matters

The change restores operational capacity lost to inflation for small, experimental, or private trading venues without expanding the relief into a broad retail exchange sandbox.

Key facts

• The transaction value threshold for low-volume market relief increased by 66.7% from A$1.5 million to A$2.5 million.
• The operational activity limit remains unchanged at a maximum of 100 completed transactions over a 12-month period.
• The new regulatory instrument runs until 1 October 2031 and exempts qualifying operators only from the Australian market licence requirement.