Coinbase Australia launches crypto support for self-directed retirement funds
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Coinbase Australia has launched support for self-directed retirement investing, offering trustees another avenue to diversify portfolios.

In a Monday blog post, Coinbase APAC Managing Director John O’Loghlen and executive Pete Patanapanlert said the company's offering for self-managed super funds (SMSFs) includes downloadable data aligned with local accounting standards and a streamlined entity verification process tailored to domestic fund structures.

"With growing regulatory clarity in Australia and institutional adoption of digital assets, we see SMSFs as a core area of potential growth in Australia," said O'Loghlen. "By combining security, simplicity, and global best practices, we're helping Australians include crypto in their retirement strategy with total confidence."

SMSFs are private retirement funds regulated by the Australian Taxation Office that give individuals direct control over their superannuation investments. Such funds are allowed to invest in a wide range of assets, including shares, property, and cryptocurrencies.

According to official data, the country had at least 664,000 SMSFs at the end of 2025, collectively holding an estimated AU$1.06 trillion ($758.2 billion) in assets.

Coinbase's (COIN) push into SMSFs came after it obtained an Australian Financial Services License last month. The crypto exchange said at the time that it plans to offer crypto and equity perpetuals to Australian investors, followed by futures and options.

OKX, another global crypto exchange, has also expanded its presence in Australia and launched similar support for SMSFs last year. According to its FAQ page, eligible users can open dedicated crypto trading accounts for SMSFs and download transaction data for auditing purposes.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has taken a more proactive step in expanding crypto's role in retirement systems. Last August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order permitting 401(k) plans to include crypto, and Indiana recently passed legislation allowing crypto allocations within certain state retirement plans.