Money-Laundering Laws Tightened to Target Crypto ATMs, Mule Accounts

Australia’s crypto ATM network has ballooned from 23 machines in 2019 to 2,000 now, with regulators linking the growth to scams and organised crime.

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 4, 2025. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australia’s financial crime regulator, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), will gain new powers under a crackdown on money laundering and scams.

Speaking at the National Press Club, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced new legislation that aims to curb emerging threats such as cryptocurrency ATMs and money-laundering schemes.