TL;DR:
- Coinbase launched dedicated support for self-managed retirement funds in Australia after obtaining an AFSL license last month.
- Australia’s Self-Managed Super Funds encompass more than 664,000 funds with estimated assets of AU$1.06 trillion as of the close of 2025.
- The platform offers entity verification, auditable reports and institutional-grade security standards tailored to local regulations.
Coinbase announced the launch of dedicated support for Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs), the private retirement funds regulated by the Australian Taxation Office that allow individuals to directly manage their retirement investments. The update includes a streamlined verification process for local structures, downloadable data aligned with the country’s accounting standards and institutional-level security protections.
John O’Loghlen, Coinbase’s managing director for the Asia-Pacific region, and executive Pete Patanapanlert announced the initiative. “With increasing regulatory clarity in Australia and institutional adoption of digital assets, we see SMSFs as a core area of potential growth in Australia,” O’Loghlen said.
Australians hold $1.05 trillion in SMSFs. Now you can invest yours in crypto with Coinbase 🇦🇺
→ 200+ assets
→ 3.5% USDC Rewards
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→ Audit-ready reports pic.twitter.com/6LNIxiAuSl— Coinbase Australia 🛡️ (@coinbase_au) May 4, 2026
Coinbase Sees Potential in Self-Managed Retirement Funds
Just a few weeks ago, Coinbase obtained an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), which also opened the door to offering cryptocurrency perpetuals and equities, followed by futures and options. According to official data, at the close of 2025 there were at least 664,000 SMSFs in the country, with combined assets estimated to reach AU$1.06 trillion (approximately $758.2 billion), making Australia one of the largest self-managed investment markets in the world.
SMSFs are permitted to invest in a wide range of assets, including equities, property and cryptocurrencies. This flexibility makes them one of the few retirement savings vehicles globally that allow direct holdings of digital assets.
Coinbase is not the first to target this segment: OKX also launched SMSF support in Australia during 2025, offering dedicated crypto trading accounts and data export for audits.
Cryptocurrencies Penetrate Retirement Funds
Last August, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allows the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans. Indiana, for its part, passed legislation authorizing crypto allocations within certain state retirement plans.
In Australia, Coinbase’s launch was driven by the evolution of the Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, which seeks to establish a clearer regulatory environment for digital assets in the country.
