Cryptocurrency Funneled Through Self-Managed Pension Funds, Flowing into Australia's Roughly $2.8 Trillion Savings Pool

September 1st. As per ChainNews, Australia's retirement system with a value of AU $4.3 trillion (approximately US $2.8 trillion) — which has long been regarded as one of the most well-regulated savings pools globally — is emerging as a new territory for the adoption of cryptocurrency. Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN.US) and OKX have consecutively launched products targeted at cryptocurrency investment by pension funds, indicating that digital assets are further penetrating the mainstream financial system. The initial emphasis is on Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs). These investor-managed funds already make up a quarter of Australia's retirement market. Unlike mainstream pension funds that generally steer clear of cryptocurrency assets, SMSFs grant individuals full investment autonomy. Fabian Bussoletti, the Technical Manager of the SMSF Association, stated: "There is a growing interest in cryptocurrency within the SMSF space, and that makes sense. Over time, larger funds may also follow suit." According to data from the Australian Taxation Office, the current scale of cryptocurrency assets held by SMSFs is still relatively small (around AU $1.7 billion as of March), but it has seen a sevenfold increase since 2021. Both exchanges are optimistic that this growth trend will accelerate, compelling regulators and institutional funds to address the cryptocurrency exposure issue that has been ignored in the past. Currently, AMP is the only mainstream pension institution in Australia that publicly discloses investments in cryptocurrency assets.