Online cryptocurrency platform Coinbase Australia has launched a new capability for SMSFs providing trustees with seamless onboarding, audit-ready reporting and institutional-level security for their digital asset holdings.
The new service is called Coinbase SMSF and represents the first initiative the organisation has launched since it recently received its Australian financial services licence.
According to the group, it is the first step in a broader strategy of providing trustees a secure platform for every type of asset, including digital assets, equities and other asset classes.
“We’re not stopping at crypto. Our ambition is to compete directly with traditional brokers and wealth platforms. SMSF trustees shouldn’t need three logins to manage their retirement – they should be able to hold digital assets, equities and other investments in one place, with one provider they trust. That’s our aim,” Coinbase Australia managing director John O’Loghlen said.
Since calling for expressions of interest mid-last year, O’Loghlen indicated the financial services firm had received hundreds of responses.
“Since launching in Australia, we’ve witnessed enormous demand from investors seeking digital asset exposure as part of their retirement strategy. These include individuals with a deep knowledge of crypto assets, as well as more traditional investors who might be seeking to add a major cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ether to an already diversified strategy,” he noted.
A recent survey of Coinbase users found 80 per cent were looking to set up new SMSFs, 77 per cent were planning to invest up to $100,000 and about 90 per cent were focused on making an allocation to Bitcoin.
ATO data as at December 2025 showed $3.25 billion of total SMSF assets were held in digital assets, accounting for just under 0.5 per cent of all SMSF assets.
The new offering is currently open for members of existing SMSFs. Trustees need to sign up and verify, review their investment strategies to ensure they allow crypto and then transfer funds to Coinbase SMSF from their super fund’s bank account. Any deposits are free and instant, but trading fees will apply.
