SMSF crypto — how to hold Bitcoin in your super fund

How crypto works with easySMSF

Cryptocurrency is a legitimate SMSF investment. The ATO has confirmed digital assets are allowable, provided the trust deed permits them, the written investment strategy addresses them, the assets are held in the fund's own name, and the sole-purpose test is met. The structure is the same as any other SMSF asset — only the custody mechanics differ.

Our position is simple: easySMSF supports cryptocurrency held directly on five Australian regulated exchanges — CoinSpot, Swyftx, Coinstash, Bitaroo and Independent Reserve. Our flat-fee administration model is built on reliable investment data: trades, holdings, income and 30 June valuations come from the exchange account held in the fund's name, which is what keeps your accounting, tax return and audit fast and fixed-fee. Any other exchange, offshore crypto account, private wallet or hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor) is not supported.

Step 1: Set up the SMSF with a corporate trustee. A corporate trustee (a Pty Ltd company acting as trustee) keeps account opening and future member changes simple. Use a modern trust deed that expressly permits digital assets.

Step 2: Roll over your existing super and open the fund's bank account. Most members roll from APRA-regulated funds (industry/retail) into the new SMSF within 3–10 business days using SuperStream. Once funded, the SMSF's transaction account is the only legitimate source of money for any investment purchase.

Step 3: Open the fund's account on a supported Australian exchange. Using the fund's ABN, trust deed and corporate trustee ASIC extract, open an account in the fund's name with CoinSpot, Swyftx, Coinstash, Bitaroo or Independent Reserve. The account belongs to the fund — never a member — and every trade is recorded against it.

Step 4: Buy from the SMSF bank account into the fund's exchange account — never from a personal account. Purchases settle to the fund's exchange account, and we capture the transaction history and year-end valuations for your accounts, tax return and audit.

Step 5: Document the investment strategy and review it annually. The ATO requires a written investment strategy that explicitly addresses crypto exposure: target allocation, rationale, risk, diversification and liquidity. A typical strategy might allocate 5%–20% to crypto within a diversified portfolio. Our free SMSF investment strategy template includes a dedicated crypto row.

If self-custody or an offshore platform is essential to your strategy, easySMSF isn't the right administrator for that approach — we'd rather be upfront. But if you want Bitcoin or Ethereum inside your fund with automatic valuations and an audit file your auditor signs off without questions, the supported Australian exchange route is the cleanest way to do it.

• Crypto supported only on five Australian regulated exchanges — CoinSpot, Swyftx, Coinstash, Bitaroo, Independent Reserve
• Exchange account opened in the fund's own name — never a member's personal account
• No other exchanges, no offshore crypto accounts (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken etc.)
• No private wallets or hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor)
• Transaction and 30 June valuation data captured from the exchange — no manual records
• Audit-ready: exchange statements and year-end balances supplied directly
• Crypto-friendly trust deed required (most modern deeds permit; older ones often don't)
• Investment strategy must explicitly address crypto allocation, risk and liquidity
• Tax: 15% on gains in accumulation (10% with CGT discount), 0% in pension phase
• Cannot transfer personal crypto into the SMSF — fund must buy on-market with SMSF cash
• Self-custody essential to your strategy? We're upfront that our service isn't the right fit