TechFlow News, May 5: According to The Block, Coinbase Australia announced on Monday that it will support cryptocurrency investments for Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs), providing trustees with a compliant channel for allocating digital assets. This service offers downloadable data compliant with Australian Accounting Standards, as well as a streamlined entity verification process tailored to local fund structures.
John O’Loghlen, Managing Director of Coinbase Asia-Pacific, stated that as regulatory clarity increases in Australia and institutional adoption of digital assets grows, the company views SMSFs as a core growth area in the Australian market. SMSFs are private retirement funds regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), allowing individuals to directly manage their pension investments across a range of assets—including equities, real estate, and cryptocurrencies. Official data indicates that, as of the end of 2025, Australia had at least 664,000 SMSFs, collectively holding approximately AUD 1.06 trillion (about USD 75.82 billion) in assets.
Last month, Coinbase obtained an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). It previously indicated plans to offer cryptocurrency and equity perpetual contracts to Australian investors, followed by futures and options. Another global exchange, OKX, launched similar SMSF-support services in Australia last year. In the United States, former President Trump signed an executive order in August last year permitting cryptocurrency inclusion in 401(k) plans; more recently, Indiana passed legislation allowing certain state retirement plans to allocate funds to digital assets.
