Key Highlights
- Hostplus, managing $105 billion for 2.2 million Australians, is evaluating Bitcoin and digital asset offerings
- Digital assets would be accessible through the ChoicePlus self-directed investment platform
- Implementation could occur within the upcoming financial year, subject to regulatory clearance
- AMP became Australia’s first major superannuation fund with Bitcoin exposure through futures in 2024
- Self-Managed Super Fund registrations surged 69% in 2024–2025 as investors sought alternative crypto access
Hostplus, ranking among Australia’s top three pension funds by size, is actively evaluating the integration of Bitcoin and additional cryptocurrencies into its investment offerings. The superannuation giant oversees more than $105 billion in retirement assets for approximately 2.2 million Australians.
Sam Sicilia, serving as Chief Investment Officer, revealed that the fund is currently in the planning stages of incorporating digital assets into its ChoicePlus platform. This platform enables members to directly control portions of their retirement portfolios.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Sicilia emphasized that member requests are the catalyst behind this initiative. “There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say, ‘Why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?'” he explained.
The ChoicePlus platform represents merely 1% of Hostplus’s overall asset base at present. Any cryptocurrency investment options would be confined to this member-directed segment of the fund.
Sicilia noted that the digital asset landscape has evolved significantly since Hostplus initially examined it approximately ten years ago. The fund is now evaluating not only Bitcoin but an expanded spectrum of cryptocurrency investments.
According to Bloomberg, these potential offerings may extend beyond traditional cryptocurrencies to include tokenized assets representing areas like intellectual property and music royalties.
The timeline for launching digital asset options could be as soon as the forthcoming financial year, Sicilia indicated. Nevertheless, obtaining regulatory authorization remains a prerequisite before any rollout can proceed.
Issues surrounding investor protection and product design continue to be addressed. “We’d love to get regulatory tick-off, even if it means waiting another six months,” Sicilia conveyed to Bloomberg.
The Rise of Self-Managed Funds for Crypto Investment
Due to the absence of cryptocurrency options at mainstream superannuation funds, significant numbers of Australians have established Self-Managed Super Funds. These SMSFs allow individuals to maintain direct control over their retirement investments rather than relying on institutional fund managers.
New SMSF registrations experienced a dramatic 69% increase year-over-year throughout the 2024–2025 financial period, based on data from Australian cryptocurrency platform BTC Markets.
OKX Australia’s CEO Kate Cooper noted in February that an increasing proportion of SMSFs are being established with the specific purpose of accessing digital assets, driven by the unavailability of crypto through traditional superannuation providers.
AMP broke new ground as the first mainstream Australian super fund to enter this territory. In May 2024, the fund established indirect Bitcoin exposure utilizing futures-based instruments.
Global Context for Retirement Crypto Adoption
Australia’s combined superannuation system held approximately $4.5 trillion Australian dollars in total assets as of September 2025.
Across the Pacific, President Donald Trump issued an executive directive last August permitting cryptocurrency inclusion in 401(k) retirement plans. Indiana has similarly enacted legislation authorizing digital assets in specific state-managed retirement programs.
Hostplus serves a relatively younger demographic, with the typical member age falling in the mid-to-late 30s, which likely contributes to heightened interest in digital asset investment opportunities among the membership base.
