LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE
UPGRADE
LOGOUT
Open menu
PayDay News - Payments Industry News Australia
Got a story
to share?
Open menu
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE
UPGRADE
LOGOUT
PayDay News | Australian Payments News

AUSTRAC audit clouds Airwallex IPO and highlights cross-border regulatory risk

Senior Business Correspondent
28 Jan, 2026
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Michael Sainsbury
Senior Business Correspondent
28 Jan, 2026
Add us as a preferred source on Google
The planned float of Australian fintech Airwallex has been thrown into doubt after AUSTRAC ordered an independent audit over concerns its payments systems may be failing to detect serious financial crime, including child sexual exploitation — sharpening investor focus on governance and bank relationships.
AUSTRAC audit clouds Airwallex IPO and highlights cross-border regulatory risk
AUSTRAC chief executive Brendan Thomas says the regulator had concerns about Airwallex’s transaction-monitoring capability, customer due-diligence processes and oversight of suspicious-matter reporting.

The planned float of Australian fintech Airwallex has been thrown into doubt after AUSTRAC ordered an independent audit over concerns its payments systems may be failing to detect serious financial crime, including child sexual exploitation — sharpening investor focus on governance and bank relationships.

Subscriber article

This article is available to PayDay News subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading
PAYDAY NEWS ANNIVERSARY EDITION

trending

PayID casino push tests payment gambling controls
Goldenbet’s Australian-focused PayID promotion raises questions about payment oversight, as banks prepare for new obligations to block illegal gambling transfers and regulators warn of scams exploiting the familiar
Crypto firms and fintechs in Bolt fallout find new rails, if they can
When Bolt Group’s Bano’s was disconnected after Banking Circle’s court win, it left crypto exchanges and fintechs reshuffling their Australian banking and payments relationships, as providers reassess the
Adyen’s NPP connection readies for micropayments boom
With Stripe also connecting to NPP via Zepto, online payments groups will be challenged by crypto companies for a slice of a low-cost acceptance market Visa and Mastercard
Stark contrast to Australia: RBNZ’s reveals inclusive cash findings
Nine out of ten Kiwi’s said New Zealand needs a minimum standard for access to cash services regardless of if they live rurally or in an urban area,
Apple complicates NFC fight with ID and A2A, putting ConnectID on notice
Apple is steering the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) towards an innovation debate involving digital ID and cheaper account-to-account payments, as the Big 4 push for iPhone NFC

RELATED STORIES ▸

Crypto firms and fintechs in Bolt fallout find new rails, if they can
Crypto firms and fintechs in Bolt fallout find new rails, if they can
Crypto firms and fintechs in Bolt fallout find new rails, if they can
When Bolt Group’s Bano’s was disconnected after Banking Circle’s court win, it left crypto exchanges and fintechs reshuffling their Australian ...
Thanks for the points: taxpayers and consumers pick up rewards bill via the RBA’s gaping fee loophole
Thanks for the points: taxpayers and consumers pick up rewards bill via the RBA’s gaping fee loophole
Thanks for the points: taxpayers and consumers pick up rewards bill via the RBA’s gaping fee loophole
The ATO’s credit-card reprieve exposes the corporate-card interchange loophole in the RBA’s reforms, rewarding points collectors while shifting acceptance costs ...
Archa secures $61m to challenge banks on corporate cards
Archa secures $61m to challenge banks on corporate cards
Archa secures $61m to challenge banks on corporate cards
In a very crowded marketplace including the likes of ANNA Money, Airwallex, Amex and the Big 4, Aussie startup Archa ...
Coles wins ACCC clearance to bring Paydock payment technology in-house
Coles wins ACCC clearance to bring Paydock payment technology in-house
Coles wins ACCC clearance to bring Paydock payment technology in-house
Coles’ quiet move to acquire Paydock brings payment orchestration technology into its retail payments business, with ACCC clearance carrying no ...
Surcharge “ban” fury: the RBA was warned but ignored it
Surcharge “ban” fury: the RBA was warned but ignored it
Surcharge “ban” fury: the RBA was warned but ignored it
The surcharge backlash was foreseeable. Independent Payments Forum and PayDay News warned of merchant anger, financial pain and inflation risks, ...
Payments giants book revenue offshore, pay little tax
Payments giants book revenue offshore, pay little tax
Payments giants book revenue offshore, pay little tax
Surcharge ban beneficiaries Visa and Mastercard use loopholes, while FIS, Zip, Wise, Adyen and Fiserv are amongst fastest growing payments ...

Got a story to share?

Get in touch with PayDay News today!
Click here to email us

Topics

Advertising Enquiry

Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.

Contact Information

Got a story to share

Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.

Contact Information