Australian Sanctions Office (ASO)

Fintech (financial technology) and DeFi (decentralised finance) companies are required to adhere to Australian sanctions laws. It is expected that Fintech and DeFi companies (companies) have in place sanctions compliance policies, and appropriate risk mitigations measures.

This Guidance Note is produced by the Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It provides a summary of relevant sanctions laws but does not cover all possible sanctions risks. 

As part of continuing improvements to PAX, the Australian Sanctions Office will be introducing a new application form for a sanctions permit. Due to technical limitations, information in applications that were submitted on the existing form cannot be carried across to the new form format. 

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has by legislative instrument designated persons and entities for targeted financial sanctions and declared persons for travel bans (together, 'listed') in accordance with item 6A of regulation 6 (the Russia Criteria) of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).

This guidance note details the restrictions on exporting certain goods to Russia and specified regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Sevastopol, Luhansk, and Donetsk) and sanctioned services relating to a sanctioned supply or associated activities.

Over the coming months, the Australian Sanctions Office will be progressively making improvements to the PAX Portal to enhance user experience and overall functionality. 

In accordance with regulation 6A(2) of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has designated the following individuals for targeted financial sanctions and declared for travel bans (together 'listed'), and designated one entity for targeted financial sanctions, by legislative instrument 

In accordance with section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (COTUNA), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has listed one person and one entity for targeted financial sanctions by legislative instrument (Charter of the United Nations (Listed Persons and Entities) Amendment (No. 4) Instrument 2024.

The Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) has released 6 new guidance notes to help Australians and Australian businesses comply with certain aspects of Australian sanctions laws.