Australia’s Hostplus pension fund is exploring offering Bitcoin and other digital assets to its nearly two million members, in a move that could signal a broader shift among institutional investors.

The A$150 billion ($105 billion) superannuation fund is assessing how to integrate crypto exposure through its Choiceplus self-directed investment platform, according to comments from chief investment officer Sam Sicilia and reporting from Bloomberg. 

The platform currently accounts for about 1% of total assets but allows members greater control over a portion of their retirement savings.

Sicilia said a rollout could come as early as the next financial year, though any launch remains contingent on regulatory approval and final product design. 

The review extends beyond Bitcoin to a wider range of digital assets, as the fund evaluates risk controls, consumer protections, and compliance with Australia’s regulatory framework.

The push is being driven in part by rising member demand. Hostplus, whose membership skews younger with an average age in the mid-to-late 30s, has seen increasing requests for access to cryptocurrency investments.

Despite growing interest, most of Australia’s A$4.5 trillion pension sector has remained cautious on digital assets. Hostplus’ review highlights how shifting investor demand and a maturing market are prompting even traditionally conservative funds to reconsider their stance.

On top of all this, mortgage-stressed households across Australia’s outer suburbs are increasingly turning to Bitcoin, with new postcode data showing “crypto belts” emerging in high-growth, mortgage-heavy areas like Melbourne’s west, Sydney’s northwest, and parts of Queensland and Western Australia. 

The trend is being driven more by financial pressure and urgency than confidence, as rising interest rates and affordability constraints push younger buyers to take greater risks in hopes of accelerating wealth or securing a home deposit. 

U.S. states are following suit with bitcoin investments

Recently, Indiana governor Mike Braun signed a law allowing Indiana’s public retirement plans to offer self-directed brokerage accounts with cryptocurrency options, including Bitcoin, by July 1, 2027. 

The measure enables state employees to allocate part of their savings to digital assets or crypto-linked ETFs, with oversight and limits set by plan administrators.

Like Australia and the state of Indiana, a broader trend of U.S. states are exploring bitcoin integration into public finance, including proposals in South Dakota and Rhode Island to invest in or ease taxes on Bitcoin. 

Meanwhile, New Hampshire has already authorized up to 5% of certain public funds to be invested in large-cap digital assets like Bitcoin.

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