Hostplus Crypto Access May Launch in 2025 as Regulation Moves

Australian super fund Hostplus is exploring crypto access for members through its Choiceplus self-directed window, per Bloomberg. CIO Sam Sicilia said the initial rollout could be as early as the next fiscal year (2025–2026), pending regulatory approval and product design. The proposed allocation would be capped at about 1% of Hostplus’s portfolio book, with the scope extending beyond Bitcoin to a broader set of digital assets, potentially including tokenized exposure (e.g., music-rights-style assets). The move reflects rising demand for crypto access within traditional retirement investing. Hostplus is reviewing consumer protection and product structure, while exchanges and industry figures (including Swyftx and Kraken Australia) argue that expanding access beyond SMSFs could improve diversification. Timing matters because volatility has already pushed some funds to de-risk. AMP Super reportedly reduced its Bitcoin futures exposure to around 0.02% after a sharp downturn. Regulatory momentum is also building: Australia’s Senate panel backed the government’s digital-asset regulatory framework to bring crypto platforms and custody under the financial-services regime, while ASIC flagged regulatory gaps as a 2026 risk. Crypto traders’ takeaway: Hostplus crypto access is a constructive medium-term narrative catalyst for Bitcoin, but near-term follow-through will likely be gradual given product approval, custody/valuation constraints, and prior de-risking (AMP Super).