Zodia Custody Adds Support for Australian Stablecoin AUDM, Unlocking Institutional Access to Programmable Settlement

Zodia Custody has announced that it is now providing custody support for AUDM, the Australian dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Macropod — heralded as Australia’s first licensed regulated stablecoin. This move makes Zodia Custody the first global custodian to offer institutional-grade custody services for AUDM, widening institutional access to a programmable settlement asset within the Australian digital asset landscape and beyond.

As stablecoin adoption continues to accelerate globally, the supporting infrastructure for custody, compliance, and institutional usage is emerging as a critical piece of the digital asset ecosystem. Zodia’s announcement illustrates how regulated custody services are becoming integral to bridging traditional finance and blockchain-based innovation, particularly for stablecoins that operate within defined regulatory frameworks.

A First for Australia’s Regulated Stablecoin Landscape

AUDM is a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Australian dollar, issued by Macropod, a licensed stablecoin issuer that holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). The token is designed to serve as a fully backed, programmable settlement asset that can support a variety of financial workflows — including tokenised payments, automated settlements, and cross-border transactions.

Zodia Custody’s support means that institutional clients — including banks, funds, and large financial firms — can now store AUDM securely under cold-storage custody arrangements that meet rigorous regulatory and security standards. This removes the operational burden of private key management and provides institutions with the confidence to hold and use AUDM as part of regulated digital asset portfolios.

The move follows AUDM’s debut on the Independent Reserve exchange and the stablecoin’s development as part of initiatives such as the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Project Acacia, which explored tokenised settlement assets and use cases within regulated financial infrastructure.

Ryan Hodges, Managing Director for Australia at Zodia Custody, framed the support for AUDM as a direct response to institutional demand for secure access to meaningful digital asset innovations. Hodges emphasised that enabling custody for regulated stablecoins like AUDM provides a foundation for institutions to participate in programmable finance — including real-time settlement, tokenised cash instruments, and capital-efficient treasury operations.

Stablecoins Evolving Toward Institutional Infrastructure

What Zodia Custody’s AUDM support signals is more than just an expansion of an asset list — it reflects a broader shift in how stablecoins are being integrated into mainstream institutional infrastructure.

Stablecoins emerged initially as crypto-native payment mechanisms and trading instruments, but 2025 and 2026 have seen a pivot toward stablecoins that are fully regulated, fully backed, and designed for enterprise usage. Assets like AUDM are increasingly seen not just as speculative digital tokens but as programmable settlement assets capable of powering tokenised payments, automated contract workflows, and cross-border liquidity flows.

By offering custody support, Zodia opens the door for institutional clients to hold AUDM within regulated custodian systems that align with financial compliance expectations. This is especially significant for traditional financial institutions — who require robust governance, segregation of assets, and the ability to reconcile on-chain assets with traditional balance sheet reporting.

Audited cold storage solutions with institutional controls help to standardise digital asset participation for entities that might otherwise shy away from direct custody due to compliance concerns or operational risks.

Enabling Institutional Adoption Across Use Cases

The expanded support for AUDM touches on multiple use cases that could drive the next phase of stablecoin utility:

Real-Time Settlement

Stablecoins like AUDM enable settlement of transactions instantly and directly on supported blockchains, reducing settlement risk and friction associated with legacy payment systems.

Tokenised Payments & Cash Instruments

Programmable stablecoins can automate payments and encapsulate financial logic within tokens — offering potential efficiencies for payroll, supplier payments, or treasury operations.

Cross-Border Transactions

A compliant AUD-pegged stablecoin simplifies cross-border settlement by eliminating the need for traditional correspondent banking layers, while preserving regulatory transparency.

DeFi and Smart Contract Integration

AUDM’s programmable nature means it can be used in smart contract environments, enabling automated workflows involving liquidity pools, financial derivatives, and tokenised asset platforms.

By supporting custody of such an asset, Zodia is effectively providing institutions with the tools to engage with these use cases without having to build internal custody infrastructure or assume excessive operational risk.

Regulatory and Market Context: Australia’s Stablecoin Framework

Australia has become one of the most active jurisdictions for stablecoin regulation in the Asia-Pacific region. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has created regulatory pathways that treat stablecoins as financial products, and has even proposed broader exemptions for stablecoin distribution, indicating a willingness to facilitate innovation in digital payments while maintaining consumer and institutional protections.

Macropod’s issuance of AUDM under an AFSL places the stablecoin squarely within the regulated financial system — a major divergence from many stablecoins that operate in more ambiguous legal contexts. This regulatory clarity helps to unlock institutional interest. When combined with custody by a regulated custodian like Zodia, it creates a fully compliant on-chain asset lifecycle that can be integrated with enterprise processes.

This trend aligns with global efforts to define stablecoin frameworks that balance innovation with oversight — a direction pursued in multiple markets, including the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime, Singapore’s regulatory sandboxing, and the United States’ sectoral stablecoin guidance.

Strengthening Zodia’s Institutional Custody Footprint

Zodia Custody’s move to support AUDM strengthens its broader institutional offering, which already includes custody of major digital assets and participation in other tokenised solutions. The platform is backed by major financial entities, including Standard Chartered, Northern Trust, SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD, reinforcing its credibility and global reach.

By being the first custodian to support AUDM, Zodia reinforces its positioning as a leading partner for regulated digital asset issuers seeking institutional custody solutions. This dynamic is increasingly relevant as stablecoin markets mature and institutions seek trusted partners for asset safekeeping and compliance.

The expansion into Australian-backed stablecoins also signals Zodia’s commitment to growth in the Asia-Pacific region, where institutional digital asset adoption is accelerating and regulators are continuing to shape supportive frameworks.

What Comes Next

With institutional custody now available for AUDM, the focus will likely shift to how stablecoins like AUDM are integrated into broader institutional workflows and financial infrastructure. Areas to watch in 2026 and beyond include:

• Integration with institutional treasury operations and liquidity management tools
• Cross-chain expansion of AUDM and multi-network settlement solutions
• Regulatory developments that expand stablecoin use cases beyond settlement
• Partnerships between custodians, exchanges, and financial institutions to build full-stack programmable finance solutions

As Zodia and others expand support for stablecoins across regions and asset classes, the underlying narrative is one of transition from niche crypto utility to mainstream financial infrastructure — with custody and compliance as the bridge to institutional participation.

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