AUSTRAC

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #179, 26th September 2026

Weekly roundup recording a dozen raises and acquisitions, Firmus's scheduled float, a new $50m venture fund, a founder share sale, grant winners, an accelerator intake, and an AI agent's government breach.

Also DealStreetAsia·Dealroom·This Week in Australian Startups·AFR Technology·AFR Technology·Startup Daily·AFR Technology·AFR Technology·ABC News Technology·iTnews

Airwallex worth $16 billion after $460 million Series H

Airwallex has closed a Series H valuing it at $16 billion, with Addition in the lead and eight other backers named; the piece also recalls its December Series G.

Also Cut Through Venture·Forbes Australia·Cut Through Venture·Startup Daily

Swyftx confirms appointments of new Chair and CEO

Australian crypto brokerage Swyftx has made Cathryn Lyall its permanent Chair and Andrea Yuen its CEO, with co-founder Alex Harper stepping back from interim co-leadership to his board role.

Blockchain-powered fintech platform Block Earner raises $6.4m to give savers access to higher yields

Block Earner closed a $6.4 million seed round led by Framework Ventures at a $56.4 million post-money valuation, ahead of an early-2022 launch of its DeFi yield platform for everyday savers.

Afterpay is raising $330 million to chase the US market

Afterpay announced an underwritten share placement and purchase plan to raise A$330 million for US growth, while its founders and an executive sold $100 million of existing shares to US hedge funds.

Also SmartCompany