Australian pension fund Hostplus eyes crypto offering for self-directed accounts: Bloomberg

Hostplus, one of Australia's largest pension funds, is looking to offer bitcoin and other digital assets investment options, according to Bloomberg. 

The pension fund, which manages more than A$150 billion ($105 billion) in assets, is reportedly considering adding crypto exposure via the self-directed option Choiceplus. Hostplus allows members to self-manage a portion of their retirement savings, currently accounting for 1% of the fund's total assets.

Digital asset offerings on Hostplus could arrive as early as the next financial year, depending on regulatory approval and internal design work, Chief Investment Officer Sam Sicilia said in an interview with Bloomberg, adding that issues such as consumer protections and product structure remain under review.

"There's certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say 'why can't I have access to cryptocurrency?'" said Sicilia. Hostplus serves nearly 2 million members with an average age in the mid-to-late 30s, per the report.

The executive said crypto has matured significantly since the firm's first evaluation of the asset class nearly a decade ago. The fund is now revisiting not only bitcoin but a broader range of digital assets, potentially including tokenized exposures tied to areas such as music rights.

The Block has reached out to Hostplus for further information.

Australia's pension industry has so far shown limited interest in crypto exposure. In 2024, pension and wealth firm AMP Ltd. said it took a cautious step into the asset class by gaining indirect exposure through bitcoin futures.

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.