Margin trading restrictions for clients in Australia

Margin trading using extensions in fiat is now restricted for Kraken clients who reside in Australia, unless they are classified as a Wholesale Investor (as defined by the Corporations Act 2001). These restrictions do not affect margin trading using extensions in cryptoassets.

Margin trading using extensions in fiat is only available to Australian clients who demonstrate that they meet the definition of a Wholesale Investor as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 (see Requirements section below). Australian clients who meet this requirement must provide supporting evidence via this form to access margin trading using extensions in fiat.

Kraken is committed to expanding its product offering and is working on additional eligibility pathways for fiat margin extensions in the coming months.

Important dates

What are the requirements for Australia clients to access margin trading using extensions in fiat?

What are the restrictions?

Pair Types	Pair Examples	Buy to open a long position*	Sell to open a short position
Crypto vs. Crypto	BTC/ETH, BTC/USDT	Restrictions do not apply	Restrictions do not apply
Crypto vs. Fiat	BTC/AUD, USDT/AUD	Restrictions apply	Restrictions do not apply

* No restrictions apply to closing or reducing existing margin positions. Clients will always be permitted to enter trades to buy back existing shorts or sell out existing longs.

Requirements to qualify as a Wholesale Investor

1.
Ensure you have a verified Kraken account.
2.
Meet one of the criteria set out in the Wholesale Qualification Criteria section below.
3.
Complete our Wholesale Qualification form via web.

Wholesale Client Category: High Net Worth Individual or Controlled Entity

Applies to both Corporate and Individual clients.

As a High Net Worth Individual, at least one of the following criteria must be met:

•
Your net assets are at least 2.5 million AUD
•
Your gross annual income for each of the last 2 financial years was at least 250,000 AUD

As a Controlled Entity, at least one of the following criteria must be met:

•
The net assets of the Controlling Individual are at least 2.5 million AUD
•
The gross annual income of the Controlling Individual for each of the last 2 financial years was at least 250,000 AUD.

Supporting Documents Required:

•
Copy of a certificate issued by a qualified accountant* (including ABN) within the preceding 2 years confirming that you meet at least one of the listed criteria.
*Qualified Accountant as defined by s88B of Corps Act (member of a specified professional body)

Wholesale Client Category: Professional Investor

Applies to both Corporate and Individual clients.

As a Professional Investor at least one of the following criteria must be met:

•
You are the trustee of a superannuation fund with net assets of at least 10 million AUD;
•
You have or control gross assets of at least 10 million AUD (including any assets held by an associate or under a trust that the person manages);
•
Entity with an appropriate license (AFSL);
•
Entity that is publicly listed or a related body; corporate of a listed entity;
•
Entity that is a body regulated by APRA;
•
Person that is a registered entity within the meaning of the Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001;
•
You are an exempt public authority;
•
Entity that is an investment business and raises funds for investment purposes from the public under an AFSL;
•
Person that is a foreign entity that, if established or incorporated in Australia, would be covered by one of the preceding paragraphs.

Supporting Documents Required:

•
Supporting evidence of at least one of the listed criteria selected.

Wholesale Client Category: Large Corporate

Applies to Corporate clients only.

You must provide evidence that the business enterprise is not a small business. To meet this criterion, the business must be employing:

•
100 or more people if the business is or includes the manufacture of goods; or
•
otherwise, 20 or more people.

Supporting Documents Required:

•
Statement executed by the directors of the business to confirm the number of employees employed by the business.

Wholesale Client Category: Related Body Corporate

Applies to Corporate clients only.

Provide evidence of your status as a Related Body Corporate of a current Wholesale Client.

Supporting Documents Required:

•
A signed chart that outlines the organizational structure.

Please reach out to our Support team if you have any further questions!

Contact us directly

Important dates

What are the requirements for Australia clients to access margin trading using extensions in fiat?

What are the restrictions?

Pair Types

Pair Examples

Buy to open a long position*

Sell to open a short position

Requirements to qualify as a Wholesale Investor

Wholesale Client Category: High Net Worth Individual or Controlled Entity

Supporting Documents Required:

Wholesale Client Category: Professional Investor

Supporting Documents Required:

Wholesale Client Category: Large Corporate

Supporting Documents Required:

Wholesale Client Category: Related Body Corporate

Supporting Documents Required: