New OKX Research Explores SMSF Growth and Digital Assets

OKX Australia has released Voting with Their Super: Digital Assets, SMSFs and the Structural Transformation of Australian Retirement Savings, new research conducted independently by CoreData examining the rapid growth of Australia’s SMSF sector and the emerging role digital assets may be playing in retirement self-direction.

Australia’s SMSF sector recorded its strongest annual growth on record in 2024–25:

→ 33,224 net new funds established
→ A 91% increase on the prior year
→ Australians under 45 now account for 45% of all new fund creation, despite representing just 15% of the existing trustee population

The report outlines five key findings:

SMSF growth appears to be accelerating at a structural level, rather than reflecting a short-term cyclical trend.

Digital assets are emerging as a significant factor in SMSF formation for a subset of trustees surveyed, with 46% of respondents holding digital assets in their SMSF indicating that access to this asset class was a primary reason for establishing the fund.

Digital asset allocations within SMSFs appear concentrated rather than marginal, with the median allocation of $80,966 exceeding the median allocation to overseas shares.

The generational transfer of wealth may further amplify demand, with approximately $2.3 trillion expected to transfer to Australians under 50 by 2040, a demographic that appears more open to self-directed retirement structures and digital assets.

The advice industry currently demonstrates limited capability in this area, with fewer than one in ten financial advisers including digital assets on their Approved Product List, despite around half of SMSF trustees engaging adviser support in managing their fund.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Amy-Rose Goodey
CEO
Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA)
amy-rose@deca.org.au