Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges in Australia

With the rapid development of regulation, new entrants, and evolving user needs, choosing a crypto exchange in Australia has never required more care. Whether you’re a beginner holding Bitcoin, a frequent trader chasing altcoins, or someone interested in staking, DeFi, or institutional-grade services — the right platform depends on many interlocking factors.

What’s New in Regulation & Oversight

Before you pick an exchange, it’s critical to understand the current regulatory environment in Australia, since compliance, licensing, and oversight affect both risk and your user protections.

AUSTRAC registration requirements expanding
So far, businesses that exchange fiat and crypto (“digital currency exchange providers”, DCEs) must register with AUSTRAC. There are reforms underway: from March 31, 2026, AUSTRAC’s scope will broaden to cover all “DASPs” (crypto-asset service providers), not just fiat/crypto exchanges.
ASIC’s role & AFSL/licensing
- If a crypto asset or token is considered a financial product, many of ASIC’s rules via the Corporations Act / ASIC Act apply, including needing an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) for some operations.
- “Financial product” status depends on how the token is structured, what rights it gives holders, etc. Not all cryptos are automatically regulated.
AML / CTF and customer protection increasing
- Enhanced requirements for KYC, transaction monitoring, reporting suspicious activity.
- AUSTRAC’s regulatory expectations are being updated for 2025–26.
Taxes
- Profits or losses are generally subject to capital gains tax (CGT) when disposing of crypto.
- Crypto income (staking, airdrops, etc.) may be taxable.
- Keeping good records is essential. (While this is not new, increased enforcement and audit risk make it more important than ever.)

Key Criteria to Use When Choosing an Exchange

To identify “the best” crypto platform for you, consider:

Regulatory compliance & licensure (AUSTRAC registration, whether it must / has AFSL, whether overseas regulation helps/doesn’t help)
Security: cold storage, insurance, audits, strong reputation
Fees: trading (maker / taker), deposit/withdrawal, spreads, hidden fees
Asset variety: which cryptos, stablecoins, altcoins, tokens you want to access
Fiat support / local currency (AUD): deposit & withdrawal methods, conversion fees
User experience: UI/UX, mobile apps, live support, educational resources
Advanced features: staking, derivatives/futures, margin, OTC desk, DeFi integration
Transparency & track record: how established the platform is, any past incidents

Top Australian Crypto Exchanges / Platforms in 2025

Based on recent reviews, user feedback, and updated regulatory compliance, here are some of the top choices in Australia — each good for different use cases.

Platform	What’s Good Now	Best For
Swyftx	Still widely rated among best overall exchanges. Competitive fees, solid coin list, good support, strong security (ISO certifications etc.).	Beginners + intermediate users; those who want a trustworthy, well-rounded service.
CoinSpot	Very strong security reputation; good coin variety; user-friendly interface. Registered with AUSTRAC.	Users who favour reliability, ease of use, and multiple deposit options.
Independent Reserve	Strong in OTC and institutional services; good tools for tax and reporting; more limited coin variety but solid for those priorities.	People handling larger sums, needing better reporting, or for SMSFs (self managed super-funds).
BTC Markets	Good local AUD deposits/withdrawals; decent asset list; solid uptime & reputation.	Australians wanting good fiat access + reliable execution on major coins.
Kraken	Excellent global reputation; advanced trading tools; good security; recent reviews put it high on “exchange trust” metrics.	More experienced traders; those wanting margin/derivatives or a broad asset list.
Crypto.com	Strong rewards, staking, and features; competitive fees for active traders.	Users who want additional features (cards, rewards) beyond just buy/sell.
Bybit	Emerging as a “frequent trader” favorite due to low fees and wide coin selection. But users need to check local compliance status.	High-volume traders, altcoin hunters. (Be mindful of regulatory risk.)

Trade-offs & Warnings

Regulation isn’t uniform: Even if an exchange is registered with AUSTRAC, other regulatory obligations (ASIC, AFSL) might kick in depending on what services the exchange offers. Make sure that if you’re using derivatives, margin, or anything beyond spot trading, the platform is properly licensed / transparent.
Fee traps: Be careful with deposit & withdrawal fees (especially for cards), and with spreads or conversion fees. These often eat into returns.
Security history matters: Past hacks or regulatory fines are red flags. Even highly reputable exchanges occasionally face scrutiny (cf. Binance Australia ordered to appoint external auditor recently for its AU subsidiary).
Customer support & liquidity: For high-volume or urgent trades, poor customer support or thin liquidity can lead to delays or losses.
Tax obligations: As noted above, crypto profits, staking rewards, etc., are taxable. Undisclosed or insufficient record-keeping can lead to issues with the ATO.

Bottom Line / Recommendations

If you want a balanced, safe, and well-rounded platform, Swyftx or CoinSpot are solid first choices.
If you have more advanced needs (e.g. derivatives, margin, staking), then Kraken or Crypto.com could serve you better — just be sure you understand regulatory status for those features.
For institutional-grade or high-volume users, Independent Reserve offers more in terms of reporting, OTC, and services like SMSFs.