Australian pension giant Hostplus explores cryptocurrency integration following member requests
In response to mounting member interest, Hostplus—ranked as Australia's third-biggest pension fund by membership numbers—has begun preliminary investigations into offering Bitcoin and additional digital currencies.
According to recent reports, Hostplus—which holds the position as Australia's third-largest pension fund measured by membership—is evaluating the possibility of including cryptocurrencies among its investment choices, driven by growing member appetite for exposure to this asset category.
"We're definitely seeing demand from members who reach out asking, 'Why can't I have access to cryptocurrency?'" the fund's chief investment officer, Sam Sicilia, stated to Bloomberg on Monday.
Sicilia indicated that crypto investment options could potentially become available by the next financial year, with Bitcoin along with other digital currencies being offered via the fund's ChoicePlus investment option, a feature that enables individuals to take control of managing their own retirement savings portfolios.
However, the proposal remains in the design and planning stages and would need to secure regulatory approval, in addition to addressing various other considerations, including consumer protection measures, before it could be launched to members.
Based on data from financial comparison platform Canstar, Hostplus holds the position as Australia's third-largest super fund measured by membership and ranks fifth when measured by assets under management, with more than $139 billion. By the conclusion of the September 2025 quarter, Australia's aggregate superannuation assets were valued at approximately $4.5 trillion.
"We'd love to get regulatory tick-off, even if it means waiting another six months," Sicilia told Bloomberg. "We are long-term investors. Six months doesn't really move the dial for us."
Growing calls from pension fund members for cryptocurrency access
The pioneering super fund to adopt crypto was AMP, which in May 2024 introduced Bitcoin exposure through Bitcoin futures contracts, integrating them into its investment approach.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Sicilia noted that the cryptocurrency landscape has undergone substantial transformation since Hostplus initially examined the sector approximately ten years ago.
At present, Self‑Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) represent the primary avenue through which Australians obtain cryptocurrency exposure for their retirement portfolios. SMSFs are retirement savings vehicles that are established and controlled by individual investors, as opposed to traditional funds operated by major institutions acting on behalf of their membership base.
In its Investor Study Report, Australian cryptocurrency exchange BTC Markets revealed that SMSF registrations grew by 69% on a year-over-year basis throughout the 2024–2025 financial year.
In February, Kate Cooper, CEO of OKX Australia, explained to Cointelegraph that one substantial growth area for the platform has originated from SMSF trustees, with an expanding number of these funds being established with the specific purpose of allowing trustees to gain access to digital asset investments, "because they currently can't invest via the big super funds."