SMSFs leading the charge in crypto investment: report
SMSFs are leading a transition to investment in digital assets, according to a report from BTC Markets.
The BTC Markets Investor Study Report FY24–25 has found that digital assets are being purposefully integrated into long-term investment strategies with growth across all account types on BTC Markets strong and sustained.
“Crypto is no longer viewed as a speculative side bet, but as a strategic pillar within broader portfolio construction,” the report read.
“Self-managed super funds and corporate investors are at the forefront of this transition. SMSF registrations on BTC Markets climbed 69 per cent year-on-year, while company account openings rose 54 per cent.”
The report continued that on-platform SMSFs showed clear signs of sophistication, with their average trade size 55 per cent above the platform-wide average, with trading volume up 151 per cent year on year.
Portfolios were concentrated in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, together making up 77 per cent of holdings. Importantly, the average SMSF portfolio value increased 46 per cent, underscoring growing interest in digital assets as part of a retirement framework.
“From individuals and sole traders to company directors and SMSF trustees, a clear trend is emerging, digital assets are being purposefully integrated into long-term investment strategies,” the report read.
“Growth across all account types on BTC Markets has been strong and sustained. Crypto is no longer viewed as a speculative side bet, but as a strategic pillar within broader portfolio construction.”
According to the report, this behavioural shift was further supported by insights from BTC’s commissioned survey of Australian investors. Among those currently invested in crypto, 82 per cent allocate up to half of their total portfolio to digital assets.
Within that group, 41 per cent maintain an allocation between 1 per cent and 20 per cent, a clear signal of measured, diversified positioning.
“Rather than taking an all-in approach, investors are adopting a deliberate strategy, embedding crypto as a considered component of their overall financial planning,” it read.
The evolution of BTC Markets mirrors broader national trends. According to the ATO, Australia’s 646,000 SMSFs now manage over $1 trillion in assets.
The report said that, increasingly, new SMSF set-ups were being led by trustees under 50, pointing to a generational change in portfolio construction.
“Digital assets are no longer limited to early adopters or opportunistic traders. They are being woven into the financial lives of everyday Australians, individuals, businesses, and institutions alike,” it read.
“From high-conviction company accounts to SMSFs building for retirement, crypto is becoming a permanent fixture in the architecture of Australian wealth. What’s compelling is not just the growth in adoption, it’s the divergence in why people are investing.”
Older Australians were looking for yield and stability, while mid-career investors were building wealth and protecting against economic uncertainty.
“Both are choosing crypto as a tool for financial agency. This convergence of intent signals crypto’s evolution from speculative fringe asset to a core component of diversified portfolios.”
“Whether it’s a retiree rotating capital out of term deposits, or a professional allocating a percentage of their portfolio into digital assets, the message is clear: crypto is maturing, and so are its investors.”
A new report from Chubb echoed these findings. Its 2025 Wealth Report found that investment in alternative assets is on the rise.
The Chubb report revealed that while real estate continues to be a cornerstone of Australian wealth, with 90 per cent of Australian high-net-worth individuals surveyed having said that they own two or more homes, there was a growing interest in different kinds of assets.