Coinbase launches crypto service for Australian retirement funds

Coinbase's Australian arm has launched dedicated support for self-managed super funds (SMSFs), targeting Australian trustees who want to add crypto exposure to their retirement portfolios. 

The exchange said Sunday the offering includes tailored onboarding for SMSF structures, audit-ready reporting and institutional-grade custody protections for long-term investors. Coinbase said it is providing Australian trustees with a compliant path to diversify their retirement portfolios with digital assets. 

SMSFs are retirement savings vehicles in which members run the fund for their own benefit, giving trustees more direct control over investment decisions than they would have in many retail or industry superannuation funds, according to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). 

The sector represents a large pool of retirement capital in Australia. The ATO said that, as of June 30, 2025, more than 653,000 SMSFs were holding $1.05 trillion AUD in assets, with more than 1.2 million members.

The launch gives Coinbase a route into one of Australia’s largest self-directed investment sectors, but SMSF trustees remain responsible for deciding whether crypto exposure fits their fund’s investment strategy and risk profile.

Coinbase expands ahead of Australia’s crypto licensing regime

Coinbase’s SMSF support follows its broader push in Australia after securing an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). In April, Coinbase said the license would initially allow it to offer crypto and equity perpetuals and could later open the door to futures, options and other traditional financial products. 

The rollout also comes less than a year before Australia's digital asset licensing regime is set to commence. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 cleared both houses of Parliament on April 1, received Royal Assent on April 8, and is set to take effect on April 9, 2027. 

Related: Ripple targets April for Australian financial license via acquisition

Once in effect, the regime will require crypto operators, including exchanges and custody platforms, to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. 

Interest in crypto exposure through retirement structures has also been building beyond SMSFs. In March, Cointelegraph reported that Hostplus, one of Australia’s largest super funds, was considering crypto investment options through its ChoicePlus product, though the plan remained in design and would require regulatory approval.

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