FTX Launches Crypto Exchange Services in Australia

The exchange is hoping to get ahead of the regulatory curve by appeasing policymakers and working “proactively” with regulators

article-image

Sam Bankman-Fried; Blockworks Exclusive Art by Axel Rangel

share

key takeaways

  • FTX Australia will offer crypto derivatives as well as typical spot market offerings
  • The local firm will be headquartered in Sydney and follows other major exchanges having already established a foothold on the island nation

Major cryptocurrency exchange FTX has formally set up shop in Australia following its acquisition of a major financial license in the country.

During a virtual address to a gathered crowd attending the country’s annual Blockchain Week, FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said his company has officially launched FTX Australia.

The establishment of a domestic foothold follows FTX’s acquisition of an unnamed company that previously held an Australian Financial Services License. The move is in lockstep with other major exchanges, including Binance and Kraken, that having already established a domestic presence over the last two years.

Australians have been able to access the exchange’s international platform for some time, but FTX is hoping to get ahead of the regulatory curve by appeasing policymakers and working “proactively” with regulators.

“We’d love to work with regulators and lawmakers on understanding the crypto ecosystem and build out regulatory frameworks for analyzing them,” Bankman-Fried said.

He added FTX was “doing everything we can” to bring about a “robust healthy” ecosystem in the country in an environment that has consumer protection top of mind.

The domestic exchange will carry most of the bells and whistles of its parent by offering its products in the crypto derivative and spot markets, according to a statement on Sunday.

FTX Australia, which will be headquartered in Sydney, will act as the issuer of options contracts, futures contracts, contracts for difference and leveraged tokens.

Australia as a “regional hub”

Asked why he thought Australia was an important jurisdiction for global exchanges, the 30-year-old CEO said the country afforded a “big opportunity” to lead the rest of the region by driving innovation.

“I think the world is very much looking for a regional hub for crypto in APAC right now,” Bankman-Fried said. “Australia is a really significant demographic for the cryptocurrency industry, it’s something we’ve seen a ton of demand coming from.”

He said FTX’s move into the country was part of a “general push” over the last 12 months for the exchange to obtain licenses in “as much of the world as possible.”

The establishment of FTX Australia highlights the company’s “long-term commitment” to the local market and represents the “natural next step” in global expansion, the exchange said in its statement.

Last week, the exchange was granted a license to operate within the United Arab Emirates following the establishment of the emirate’s Virtual Asset Regulation Law, which also appointed a watchdog to monitor the budding sector.

Earlier in the month, the exchange consolidated its European operations under one umbrella in a bid to cater for clients across the bloc as well as in the Middle East.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

  • Blockworks Daily: The newsletter that helps thousands of investors understand crypto and the markets, by Byron Gilliam.
  • Empire: Start your morning with the top news and analysis to inform your day in crypto.
  • Forward Guidance: Reporting and analysis on the growing intersection of crypto and macroeconomics, policy and finance.
  • 0xResearch: Alpha directly in your inbox. Market highlights, data, degen trade ideas, governance updates, token performance and more.
  • Lightspeed: Built for Solana investors, developers and community members. The latest from one of crypto’s hottest networks.
  • The Drop: For crypto collectors and traders, covering apps, games, memes and more.
  • Supply Shock: Tracking Bitcoin’s rise from internet plaything worth less than a penny to global phenomenon disrupting money as we know it.
Tags

Upcoming Events

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates.png

Research

Fluid's hybrid money market & DEX protocol has grown rapidly since launch in December of 2024.

article-image

Should higher-fidelity graphics be the goal for crypto games — which result in much higher costs and risk?

article-image

From Mel B to Neil deGrasse Tyson, BTC has seen its share of strange celebrity sightings

article-image

Circle’s roadshow will be the real test for the stablecoin issuer

article-image

PitchBook’s Robert Le said crypto projects focused on institutional use cases are the focus

article-image

The decentralized AI firm designed ODS to be owned by the community in an effort to promote more decentralized AI

article-image

The non-profit’s launch and big-name hires aim to grow Solana’s footprint in Washington