All Posts

Australia is fast becoming a serious destination for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Billions of dollars are being directed toward data centres, compute clusters and energy-intensive AI systems. Proposals such as the reported $7 billion OpenAI–NEXTDC campus in Western Sydney highlight the scale of investment now in play. At first glance, this looks like a clear economic win. But a more important question sits beneath it: who is actually capturing the value? If you ex

The integration of digital‑asset institutions into central‑bank payment infrastructure may represent one of the most significant structural shifts in financial market architecture since the introduction of modern real‑time gross settlement systems. In March 2026, the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced that its banking subsidiary, Kraken Financial Bank, had been granted a Federal Reserve master account by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.¹ This approval allows Kra

This article examines the Federal Court of Australia decision concerning The Star Entertainment Group and the liability of senior executives for failures in anti‑money‑laundering governance. The judgment is particularly significant for chief legal officers and compliance executives because it confirms that these individuals may be treated as corporate officers for the purposes of statutory duties under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The article summarises the factual backgr

“Virtually everything in history is documented by [the] coinage. And there is one thing interesting about the coinage, the buildings crumble, the paper gets lost, coins have survived.” [1] Executive summary Australia currently operates a de facto two-tier monetary and financial system separating legal tender from prudentially recognised “money-like” assets. Within this framework, bullion occupies an anomalous position: certain gold and silver coins are legal tender under the

Introduction Australian superannuation funds have materially increased their exposure to illiquid assets over the past decade, including unlisted infrastructure, private equity, private credit and direct property. This shift has been driven by prolonged monetary accommodation, falling discount rates, the search for yield, and the scale advantages enjoyed by large institutional funds. While these allocations may be defensible for long‑horizon accumulation members, their growin

Executive summary Recent actions by the United States and China mark a structural shift in global metals markets. China’s introduction of export licensing for silver and its established use of export controls across critical minerals, combined with the United States’ import-side actions under Section 232 to secure processed critical mineral supply chains, create a strategic opening for Australia. Australia’s comparative advantages: rule of law stability, scale of mineral endo

Why Tier 1 gold, paper gold bans, and deposit guarantees are widely misunderstood, and what actually happens in a crisis. Bottom line: Basel III improves bank resilience in ordinary stress. It does not guarantee safety in a severe systemic downturn as capital can be exhausted. Deposit guarantees rely on government backstops, not a vault of cash. What Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital actually are Under Basel III, “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” refer to a bank’s capital (its own loss‑absorbing

The digital asset sector is evolving rapidly, shaped by regulatory changes across the globe. Recent reforms by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are creating ripples far beyond American borders. For Australia, a country with a growing digital asset market, understanding these reforms is crucial. This post explores how OCC and CFTC regulatory shifts influence Australia's digital asset environment, what

Australia’s taxation laws treat Bitcoin far more favourably than gold and silver coins even though all function as forms of currency....

Introduction (1) Gold has long been regarded as a cornerstone of value preservation and a medium of exchange. Unlike Bitcoin, which has...

Australia is endowed with an abundance of natural resources, positioning the nation as a key player in the global economy. As we navigate...

In recent years, Bitcoin has moved beyond the status of a speculative asset. It is increasingly being adopted by governments, financial...

In the world of banking and finance, Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) holders face a myriad of complex issues that require...

Are you an institutional investor looking to navigate the complex world of Australian Financial Services licencing (AFSL)? Understanding...

When it comes to wholesale investors, compliance programs play a crucial role in ensuring adherence to regulations and fostering trust...