Hostplus, one of Australia’s largest retirement funds by membership, is exploring the possibility of offering cryptocurrencies as an investment option, responding to growing interest from its members.
Chief Investment Officer Sam Sicilia said the fund has received increasing requests from members asking for access to digital assets, highlighting rising demand for crypto exposure.
If approved, the offering could launch as early as the next financial year, with assets like Bitcoin made available through the fund’s ChoicePlus option, which allows members to manage their own investment portfolios.
However, the initiative is still in the design stage and would need regulatory approval, along with safeguards such as consumer protection measures, before it can be rolled out.
Hostplus currently ranks as the third-largest super fund in Australia by member count and the fifth-largest by assets, managing over $96 billion, according to Canstar.
Australia’s broader superannuation sector held approximately 4.5 trillion Australian dollars in assets as of the September 2025 quarter, underscoring the scale of the market.
Sicilia noted that while the fund is eager to move forward, it is prepared to wait for regulatory clearance, emphasizing its long-term investment approach.
Growing demand for crypto among super fund members
Interest in crypto exposure among Australian retirement savers continues to rise. AMP became the first super fund to enter the space in May 2024, offering indirect exposure to Bitcoin through futures contracts as part of its investment strategy.
According to Sam Sicilia, the crypto sector has matured significantly since Hostplus first evaluated it roughly a decade ago, making it a more viable option for institutional portfolios today.
For now, most Australians seeking crypto exposure in their retirement savings rely on Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs), which allow individuals to directly control their investment decisions rather than relying on large institutional funds.
Data from BTC Markets shows SMSF registrations surged 69% year-on-year during the 2024–2025 financial year, reflecting growing interest in digital assets.
OKX Australia CEO Kate Cooper noted that SMSF trustees have become a key growth segment, with many funds being specifically established to enable crypto investments—largely because traditional super funds have yet to widely offer such options.
