tl;dr
OKX, a global cryptocurrency exchange, has launched a platform tailored for Australia’s self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), aiming to integrate digital assets into traditional retirement planning. SMSF crypto holdings have grown sevenfold since 2021, reaching $1.8 billion in 2025. The platf...
**OKX Targets Australia’s Retirement Market with Crypto-Specific SMSF Platform**
Australia’s self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs)—private retirement vehicles that let individuals and small groups control their savings—may soon have a new player in their corner: OKX, the global cryptocurrency exchange. Last week, the exchange unveiled a platform tailored for SMSFs, aiming to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional retirement planning.
The move comes as crypto’s presence in SMSFs has surged. According to OKX Australia CEO Kate Cooper, SMSF crypto holdings have grown **sevenfold since 2021**, reaching **$1.8 billion** (US$1.2 billion) in 2025. “This isn’t about chasing a trend; it’s about providing serious infrastructure for SMSF trustees choosing to include digital assets in their portfolios,” Cooper said. Australia’s SMSFs, which manage nearly a third of the nation’s $4 trillion retirement savings, are now a force to be reckoned with.
### A Platform Built for SMSFs
OKX’s new offering is designed to meet the unique needs of SMSFs, which are known for their strict compliance requirements. The platform includes features like **custody services**, **multi-signature security**, and **proof-of-reserves reporting** across 22 tokens. It also simplifies end-of-year reporting for audits and integrates **AUSTRAC-registered exchange services**, ensuring adherence to Australia’s anti-money laundering regulations.
For trustees, the goal is clear: **streamline the process** of adding crypto to retirement portfolios without sacrificing security or compliance. Cooper emphasized that SMSFs are not just experimenting with digital assets—they’re **scaling up**. “Australian SMSF trustees manage more money than most sovereign wealth funds. They deserve enterprise-level solutions,” she added.
### Crypto’s Growing Role in SMSFs
Data from OKX underscores the rapid shift: SMSF crypto allocations have **jumped 746%** between March 2020 and March 2025. Yet, despite this growth, crypto still accounts for less than **0.3%** of SMSF assets overall, according to the Australian Tax Office. That’s a far cry from the dominance of traditional assets like shares, cash, and property, which remain the backbone of most SMSFs.
The caution is understandable. While Asia-Pacific crypto trading volumes surged **69%** in the same period, SMSFs have been slower to embrace the trend. A recent ATO report noted a brief spike in crypto allocations in early 2024, only for many investors to step back, “missing the rally.”
### A Slow Burn or a Breakout?
Still, OKX is betting on a long-term shift. Cooper expects **thousands of SMSFs** to onboard the platform in the next 12 to 24 months, with many switching from other exchanges. The challenge? Convincing a market that’s historically risk-averse to see crypto not as a speculative gamble, but as a **legitimate, diversified asset class**.
For now, the numbers tell a story of cautious growth. While SMSF assets grew just **5.5%** in the year to June 2025, the crypto segment within them is accelerating. Whether that momentum translates into broader adoption remains to be seen—but for OKX, the message is clear: the future of retirement planning is being written in code.