Hostplus Eyes Crypto for 2.2M Members in $96B Australian Super Fund

Australias third largest pension fund , hostPlus is said to be looking into adding crypto to its investment options...

Quick overview

  • HostPlus, Australia's third largest pension fund, is exploring the addition of cryptocurrency to its investment options due to growing member interest.
  • The fund, which manages $96 billion in assets for 2.2 million members, aims to offer crypto through its ChoicePlus platform, allowing personalized retirement portfolios.
  • Regulatory approval is required before launching crypto investments, with potential implementation as early as the next financial year.
  • This move could significantly influence the Australian superannuation sector, encouraging other funds to consider similar offerings.

Australias third largest pension fund , hostPlus is said to be looking into adding crypto to its investment options. With 2.2 million people calling hostPlus their fund and $96 billion in assets being looked after , the organisation is simply trying to keep pace with its members who are increasingly interested in getting their hands on crypto.

“Yep we’re getting a fair bit of interest from customers who want to know why they cant invest in crypto” hostPlus chief investment officer Sam Sicilia told Bloomberg. Theyre looking at making bitcoin & other digital assets available to their members through ChoicePlus – the platform that lets them create their own retirement portfolio

This is all still in the early stages & wont get the go ahead until its been overhauled to make sure its safe & sound for customers and gets the green light from the regulators – which could be as early as next financial year

Crypto Adoption and Market Context

This would follow AMP which introduced a way for members to get into bitcoin via futures contracts back in May last year. Its a pretty big deal for the Australian superannuation sector which looks after a whoppng 4.5 trillion dollars in assets as of last September.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-23/australian-pension-fund-mulls-offering-crypto-in-rare-move/

Some key points on crypto in super funds:

  • At the moment Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are how most Aussies are investing in crypto.
  • There was a 69% increase in the number of SMSFs getting set up last year according to BTC Markets.
  • OKX Australia reckons an increasing number of SMSFs are being set up so people can get into crypto because the other big funds aren’t offering it.

Sicilia said that since they first looked at doing this a decade ago crypto has come a long way – meaning hostPlus is happy to take a long view & adapt to what the market is doing.

Regulatory Path and Member Demand

The fund is going to have to get the okay from the regulators before they can actually offer crypto to their customers – and even then they might have to wait a few months before they can get going. “We’re investors” Sicilia said. “Six months wont move the needle for us”

If its given the go ahead though the aim is to give customers more choice & reflect the fact that a lot of other big institutions are getting into this sort of thing too. With millions of people out there looking to invest in bitcoin & other cryptos as part of their retirement portfolios hostPluses move could have a pretty big impact on the whole superannuation landscape – and might even get other funds thinking about following in their footsteps.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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