Crypto Makes a Play for Retirement Money
Two of the world’s biggest exchanges—Coinbase Global and OKX—are setting their sights on Australia’s massive $2.8 trillion pension pool, preparing products that could redirect retirement savings into digital assets. The focus is on self-managed super funds (SMSFs), which account for about 25% of the entire pension industry and allow individuals to make their own investment decisions.
So far, mainstream pension funds in Australia have avoided crypto, but SMSFs are proving to be an early bridge between retirement savings and digital assets.
Coinbase and OKX Roll Out Dedicated Services
To capture this interest, Coinbase is preparing a dedicated SMSF service, already boasting a waiting list of 500 investors. The exchange will provide not just crypto access, but also legal and accounting support to help individuals set up compliant SMSFs.
Meanwhile, OKX launched its Australian SMSF entry point in June, with CEO Kate Cooper highlighting “significant demand” from investors eager to diversify retirement portfolios with crypto.
Both firms are positioning their offerings as buy-and-hold retirement strategies rather than tools for speculative trading, aiming to attract cautious investors who want exposure to Bitcoin and other digital assets without overcomplicating their retirement plans.
Current Exposure Still Small—But Growing Fast
Despite the hype, crypto exposure in SMSFs remains relatively modest. Data from the Australian Tax Office shows holdings equivalent to $1.1 billion, a tiny fraction of the total pension system. Still, that figure has grown significantly since 2021, marking a clear trend of rising adoption.
As of 2025, AMP remains the only major Australian pension provider with crypto exposure, leaving Coinbase and OKX to tap into a growing but still underserved demand. Both expect that institutional comfort and regulatory clarity will eventually bring more funds on board.
Younger Investors Drive Demand
Coinbase research shows younger investors are pushing adoption. On its SMSF waiting list, 77% of clients plan to allocate up to A$100,000 ($65,000) into digital assets, with most being millennials or Gen Z investors who are “crypto natives.”
These generations tend to establish SMSFs earlier than their predecessors, and they are far more comfortable with diversifying into crypto. Coinbase believes this demographic shift will drive sustained demand.
However, the path isn’t without obstacles. SMSFs come with significant administrative costs, including mandatory independent audits, meaning smaller accounts may not find crypto exposure via SMSFs financially viable.
Regulators Remain Cautious
Australia’s regulators have been active in shaping the rules. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) continues to warn investors against overexposure to crypto due to its volatility. At the same time, authorities remain vigilant about compliance, having recently forced Binance’s local arm to undergo an external audit.
Earlier in 2025, Australia overhauled its crypto regulatory framework, giving the country a reputation as one of the world’s most active jurisdictions for crypto oversight. By staying compliant, Coinbase and OKX aim to position themselves as trusted gateways for retirement money to flow into crypto.
For now, the move signals a new frontier: crypto isn’t just for traders anymore—it’s steadily making its way into long-term retirement strategies.
