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AUSTRAC suspends Cryptolink
Australia’s anti-money laundering watchdog AUSTRAC suspended Cryptolink’s Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration for three months, ordering the operator’s Bitcoin ATMs offline over “basic reporting” failures.
“suspended Cryptolink’s registration for three months”
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the suspension meant Cryptolink’s crypto ATMs “will not be allowed to operate during that time,” starting Sunday and running for three months.
AUSTRAC said Cryptolink failed to meet basic reporting requirements, particularly threshold transaction reports, and did not respond to AUSTRAC’s request for information.
The regulator also issued a $56,340 infringement notice that Cryptolink paid, and the suspension followed an enforceable undertaking Cryptolink entered into with AUSTRAC in October 2025.
Cryptolink operates 96 ATMs in Australia, allowing customers to exchange cash for Bitcoin, with most located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Thomas cites high-risk gaps
In explaining the decision, Thomas said, “As part of our continued focus on digital currency as a money laundering risk, AUSTRAC has ongoing concerns about the company’s ability to manage high-risk transactions through its CATMs,” linking the suspension to compliance with anti-money laundering obligations.
Thomas also said Cryptolink “failed to submit these required reports or respond to AUSTRAC’s request for information,” and AUSTRAC “deemed it too high risk to continue operating at present.”
The suspension followed AUSTRAC’s Crypto Taskforce identifying alleged breaches including late transaction reporting and shortcomings in Cryptolink’s risk assessments under an enforceable undertaking accepted in October 2025.
BitKE reported AUSTRAC said Cryptolink failed to submit required threshold transaction reports and did not respond to requests for information, and it described the action as a move that would take the operator’s 96 machines offline.
BitKE further quoted Thomas saying AUSTRAC would monitor Cryptolink to ensure it complies with the suspension.
Regulatory pressure and next steps
AUSTRAC framed the case as part of a broader crackdown on crypto ATM operators, with Finanzen.net saying Australian authorities have been cracking down on the criminal use of crypto ATMs since at least late 2024.
“no longer allowed to operate its 96 CATMs”
Finanzen.net also reported that AUSTRAC’s action followed the enforceable undertaking in October 2025 after alleged breaches were identified, and it said the regulator’s suspension added to the earlier $56,340 infringement notice.
Mirage News | Western Mainstream said the suspension took effect from Monday 9 August and left Cryptolink “no longer allowed to operate its 96 CATMs,” while also stating AUSTRAC would monitor the company to ensure compliance.
Cryptonews.net described the suspension as starting Sunday and said AUSTRAC cited “ongoing concerns” about Cryptolink’s compliance with anti-money laundering obligations.
The sources also describe the immediate consequence for customers: Cryptolink’s ATMs would not be allowed to operate during the three-month suspension period.
