- Hostplus explores adding Bitcoin and crypto to its A$150B retirement fund.
- ChoicePlus, which represents about 1% of total managed assets, may offer crypto access.
- Choiceplus acts as a low-risk sandbox to test demand and scale crypto adoption.
Australia’s largest superannuation fund, Hostplus, which manages more than A$150 billion ($105B) in assets, is actively exploring the addition of $BTC and other digital assets as investment options for its members.
CIO Sam Sicilia confirmed in a Bloomberg interview that there is clear demand from some members for crypto exposure, and the fund is now in the design phase of offering these assets. Hostplus is making a rare, cautious move in Australia’s conservative pension sector, where most funds avoid crypto due to regulation, volatility, and investor protection.
After stating in its 2024 Annual Members’ Meeting that it had “no immediate plans” while awaiting ASIC’s December 2024 guidance, the fund is now moving forward, with Sicilia noting that Choiceplus crypto offerings could be available as early as the next financial year, subject to regulatory approval and safeguards.
Choiceplus Accounts For 1% Total Assets
Choiceplus investment platform currently represents 1% of the fund’s total assets, which is precisely 1.1% as reported in the FY2025 Annual Report, including Choiceplus Cash and term deposits.
This equates to roughly A$1.5-1.65 billion of the A$150B+ fund, giving members the ability to direct their own super or pension into ASX S&P/ASX 300 shares, selected ETFs and LICs, including gold and silver ETFs already available, and term deposits, all while maintaining a minimum balance in Hostplus’ standard options.
The platform requires a $10,000 minimum and enforces limits of 80% in shares/ETFs/LICs, 20% in a single stock, and a $250,000 max order size. By routing Bitcoin and other digital assets exclusively through Choiceplus, Hostplus will keep exposure small, voluntary, and ring-fenced, without affecting the default Balanced (MySuper) option, addressing member requests while protecting long-term interests.
What Does It Mean for Pension Funds and Crypto Adoption?
Notably, the Choiceplus platform serves as a low-risk “sandbox” for innovation, meeting member demand, gathering real-world usage data, and enabling Hostplus to scale responsibly as adoption and regulation evolve.
This mirrors cautious approaches seen elsewhere:
- Sweden’s AP7 and some UK schemes tested 1–3% crypto allocations
- U.S. public pensions, such as Wisconsin, hold under 1% in Bitcoin via ETFs
- Australian SMSFs hold over $3 billion in crypto
According to the 5th Australian crypto survey, 25% of all Australians have owned crypto compared to around 13% of US adults, and success at Hostplus could normalize the conversation and pressure competitors to respond. Therefore, increased institutional interest accelerates improvements in custody, regulation, ETFs, and risk-management tools.
Related: Australia Approves AUDD Stablecoin for XRPL, XRP Price Steady
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Source: https://coinedition.com/australias-105b-hostplus-pension-fund-explores-bitcoin-options/
