Leading centralized exchanges, Coinbase and OKX, are expanding their offerings by introducing cryptocurrency services tailored for Australia’s self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). This move enables individuals to diversify their retirement savings by incorporating digital assets into their portfolios.
Previously, Australians could hold digital assets within SMSFs independently. Now, Coinbase and OKX provide structured products that simplify access, combining referrals to legal and accounting experts with integrated custody solutions. These turnkey services ensure compliance with audit and regulatory requirements, reducing the burden on investors to manage these complexities themselves.
As of March 2025, SMSFs represent about 25% of Australia’s retirement funds and held approximately A$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) in crypto assets. This figure reflects significant growth, increasing sevenfold since 2021, highlighting the rising acceptance of cryptocurrency in retirement planning.
Demand for these crypto-focused SMSF products is strong. Coinbase reports over 500 investors on its waiting list, each planning allocations of up to A$100,000. OKX, having launched a similar product in June, also notes higher than expected interest.
This initiative lowers barriers for mainstream adoption, representing a pioneering effort by major exchanges to tap into one of the world’s largest retirement systems on a per-capita basis.
Shifting Crypto Retirement Policies in the United States
Simultaneously, other leading economies like the U.S. are reconsidering how retirement portfolios can include cryptocurrencies.
In April 2022, Fidelity Investments pioneered a Bitcoin 401(k) option, allowing participants to allocate up to 20% of their savings to Bitcoin where employers opt-in. However, early regulatory caution from the U.S. Department of Labor urged fiduciaries to exercise extreme caution regarding crypto exposure.
By May 2025, this cautious stance shifted when the Labor Department officially withdrew its restrictive guidance, granting discretion back to plan sponsors to include alternative assets like cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans.
A landmark moment occurred on August 7, 2025, with President Donald Trump signing an executive order titled Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors. This directive instructs the Department of Labor to update retirement plan regulations, facilitating broader alternative asset inclusion such as cryptocurrencies.
While this policy change was welcomed by figures like Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who emphasized giving investors greater control, some critics expressed concerns over potential risks to retirement security and conflicts of interest due to political and financial ties within crypto firms backed by political figures.
Notably, the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, supported by the Trump family, debuted trading after a private sale raised over $500 million, illustrating the intertwined nature of crypto and political influence.
