SKN | Australian Crypto Leaders See Growth Momentum, but Policy Gaps Persist

Key Points

• Australian crypto executives cite rising adoption, ETF access and institutional engagement as signs of progress.
• Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) are emerging as a key channel for digital asset investment.
• Banking barriers, debanking concerns and regulatory uncertainty remain unresolved challenges.

Coinbase APAC managing director John O’Loghlen said Australia’s crypto market is seeing meaningful regulatory and institutional progress, even as structural issues linger.

Speaking at XRP Australia 2026 in Sydney, O’Loghlen highlighted improving expertise among regulators and stronger institutional engagement through exchange-traded products.

Australia launched its first spot bitcoin ETF in June 2024, followed by an ether ETF in October. These products allow traditional investors exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum without directly holding tokens.

O’Loghlen also pointed to Coinbase’s inclusion in the S&P 500 as another indirect pathway for Australian institutions to gain exposure to the sector through public equities.

According to a 2025 report from Independent Reserve, crypto adoption among Australians rose to 31%, up from 28% the prior year, with nearly 29% of respondents planning to invest within 12 months.

SMSFs Become a Crypto Gateway

OKX Australia CEO Kate Cooper said one of the fastest-growing investor groups is self-managed super fund trustees.

SMSFs — retirement funds controlled directly by individuals rather than large institutions — are increasingly being established specifically to enable crypto investments. Cooper noted that many Australians cannot access digital assets through major superannuation funds, prompting them to create their own structures.

An upcoming OKX report indicates SMSF investors are primarily motivated by portfolio diversification and long-term growth potential.

Debanking and Policy Friction

Despite the momentum, industry leaders say persistent banking friction continues to hamper the sector.

Cooper acknowledged that debanking — where financial institutions restrict services to crypto firms — remains an unresolved issue. She emphasized ongoing efforts to work with policymakers to establish clearer standards.

O’Loghlen similarly called for balanced reforms, warning that new payment service regulations should avoid inadvertently sweeping in non-custodial wallet developers or public blockchain infrastructure providers under licensing regimes designed for intermediaries.

Legal Uncertainty Clouds the Landscape

Australian crypto lawyer Bill Morgan described the country’s regulatory environment as being in a “wait and see” phase.

A key factor is the ongoing legal dispute between the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and fintech firm Block Earner. ASIC is appealing a Federal Court ruling that sided with Block Earner over whether its crypto-related products required a financial services license.

Morgan also pointed to political turnover as a contributor to slower legislative progress, noting that shifts between coalition and Labor governments can reset regulatory momentum.

A Market Advancing, But Not Settled

Australia’s crypto ecosystem is expanding, with growing retail participation, institutional products and alternative retirement investment channels.

Yet unresolved banking friction, regulatory ambiguity and political transitions continue to shape the landscape.

For industry leaders, the trajectory appears positive — but the path toward a fully settled regulatory framework remains a work in progress.