On 30 September 2026, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced increased transaction limits for low-volume financial markets. The aggregate transaction value threshold rises from A$1.5 million to A$2.5 million. The separate limit of 100 completed transactions remains unchanged.1
The ASIC Corporations (Low Volume Financial Markets) Instrument 2026/756 commences on 1 October 2026. It continues Australian market licensing relief for qualifying markets whose operators appear on ASIC’s register.2
Revised limits for low-volume financial markets
Both transaction limits must be satisfied:
| Eligibility measure | Previous threshold | Revised threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Completed transactions | No more than 100 | No more than 100 |
| Aggregate transaction value | A$1.5 million | A$2.5 million |
The limits apply during the 12-month period beginning when the market was named on ASIC’s register. They also apply during each subsequent 12-month period. The monetary threshold measures total transaction value across the market during the relevant period.1 2For eligible operators, the change permits greater transaction value while retaining the existing transaction-count ceiling.
ASIC registration remains necessary
The exemption applies to qualifying markets whose operators are named on ASIC’s register. Operators seeking inclusion must apply to ASIC. ASIC’s Information Sheet 217 identifies the information required for an application. This includes the market’s structure, activities, products and proposed size. Operators must also demonstrate their operational capacity, financial resources and arrangements for supervising the market. ASIC states that registration requires satisfaction that the market qualifies and the operator can comply with the relief conditions.3
Operating and reporting conditions continue
The instrument exempts qualifying markets from Part 7.2 of the Corporations Act 2001. Its conditions include:
- Restrictions on eligible financial products and the markets operated by the operator and its associates.
- Prohibitions on automatic order execution and automatic contract formation.
- An appropriately authorised Australian financial services licence where the operator handles settlement purchase money.
- Written disclosure of the market’s exempt and unlicensed status before a person first uses it.
- Annual reporting to ASIC within 45 days after each registration anniversary.4
Accordingly, operators assessing the increased threshold must also consider their trading arrangements, settlement activities and continuing reporting obligations.
Consultation and duration of the relief
ASIC noted that the monetary threshold had remained unchanged since 2016. The increase reflects factors including inflation. Consultation took place during July and August 2026. ASIC received three submissions supporting continuation of the relief in principle. Two submissions raised concerns about the appropriate eligibility thresholds. ASIC concluded that the adopted thresholds balance reduced compliance costs against regulatory risk.5 The remade instrument continues the relief previously provided under Instrument 2016/888. The exemption runs until the start of 1 October 2031.1 2
Footnotes
- ASIC, “ASIC increases low volume financial market transaction threshold by $1 million”, 30 September 2026.
- ASIC Corporations (Low Volume Financial Markets) Instrument 2026/756, sections 2, 5 and 6(1). Registered on 25 September 2026.
- ASIC, Information Sheet 217: Licensing relief for low volume financial markets, September 2026, introductory paragraphs and “What must you include in your application?”
- Instrument 2026/756, sections 4, 6 and 7(1)–(5), (9).
- ASIC, CS 60: Proposed remake of low-volume financial markets instrument, released 23 July 2026; “Consultation feedback and ASIC’s response”, released 30 September 2026.
