Hostplus, Australia’s third-largest pension fund by membership, is exploring the possibility of offering cryptocurrency investments after receiving member requests for access to the asset class.
“There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say, ‘Why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?’” Sam Sicilia, Hostplus’s chief investment officer, told Bloomberg. He said crypto options could be available as soon as the next financial year through the fund’s ChoicePlus platform, which lets members self-manage their retirement portfolios.
The proposal is still being developed and would need regulatory approval and solutions for issues such as consumer protections before launch. Sicilia noted the fund is prepared to wait for regulatory clearance, adding that as long-term investors “six months doesn’t really move the dial for us.”
Hostplus is the third-largest super fund in Australia by member count and ranks fifth by assets under management, holding about $96 billion (roughly $139 billion Australian dollars), according to Canstar. Australia’s total superannuation assets were estimated at about A$4.5 trillion at the end of the September 2025 quarter.
Background and broader context
AMP became the first major super fund to introduce crypto exposure in May 2024, adding Bitcoin futures contracts to its investment lineup. When Hostplus first investigated the sector a decade ago, the industry looked very different, Sicilia said.
Currently, Self‑Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are the primary route for Australians to hold crypto within their retirement savings. SMSFs are run by individuals who choose and manage investments themselves rather than relying on large institutional super funds. BTC Markets reported SMSF registrations rose 69% year‑on‑year during the 2024–2025 financial year.
Kate Cooper, CEO of OKX Australia, told Cointelegraph in February that growth for the exchange has been driven in part by SMSF trustees establishing funds specifically to invest in digital assets because major super funds have not offered direct crypto access.
Hostplus’s consideration of crypto options reflects growing member interest and a broader trend of institutional and retail adoption in Australia, though any offering will hinge on regulatory approval and the establishment of appropriate safeguards.