If you have ever felt like the humble postage stamp was a bit “last century”, Australia Post is about to change your mind. To celebrate the 2026 Year of the Horse, the national postal service is ditching the status quo and galloping headfirst into the digital age with the launch of its first-ever “DigiStamp”.
It is a significant move for an institution that has been around for 216 years. While we are all used to licking a stamp (or, more realistically, peeling the self-adhesive kind) and sending off a card, the new Lunar New Year collection blends that tactile tradition with blockchain technology.
The Art of the Horse
This year’s collection is a visual feast designed by Sydney-based artist Chrissy Lau. Known for her intricate lines and vibrant patterns, Lau has created three hero designs that capture the spirit of the Fire Horse:
- The Plum Blossom Fire Horse: Symbolising beauty and renewal.
- The Fire Lantern Horse: A nod to the light and guidance of the New Year.
- The Longevity Knot Fire Horse: Representing power and enduring luck.
The designs use a “stipple” texture meant to emulate glowing embers—a fitting tribute to the Fire Horse, a zodiac sign that only rolls around once every 60 years. In Chinese culture, the Horse represents speed and independence, and when you add the Fire element into the mix, you get a year defined by “double fire” energy. In other words: strap in, because 2026 is going to be fast-paced.
So, What on Earth is a DigiStamp?
For the collectors who want something they can hold and something they can show off online, the DigiStamp is the bridge.
Launching in March, these collectables retail for $15. Here is the clever bit: each physical stamp card comes with a QR code on the back. Once you scan it, you activate a secure digital counterpart on the blockchain.
The best part? Australia Post has made it surprisingly “user-friendly”. You do not need to be a crypto-wizard to own one. There are no digital wallets to set up, no complex apps to download, and no confusing accounts to create. It is a seamless way to own a unique digital token that proves your stamp is one of a kind.
For the serious collectors (or the just plain lucky), there is an extra layer of excitement. Hidden within the standard releases are 100 special-edition DigiStamps for each design. These are randomly packaged, meaning you could snag a rare piece of digital history just by picking up your mail supplies at the local Post Office or online.
Kayla Le Cornu, Australia Post’s General Manager of Retail Product, notes that while stamps have always “captured the spirit of their era,” this move into the 21st century ensures the joy of collecting stays relevant for a new generation.
The physical Year of the Horse stamps are available now, with the digital “DigiStamps” set to drop this March.
