The Best Types of Crypto Assets to Buy in Your SMSF (2025 Guide) By My SMSF — Australia’s Leading SMSF Crypto Accounting Specialists Cryptocurrency investing has matured significantly for SMSFs. With the right governance, evidence and long-term strategy, trustees can incorporate digital assets in a way that supports diversification while meeting SIS Act requirements.This guide […]
The Best Types of Crypto Assets to Buy in Your SMSF (2025 Guide)
By My SMSF — Australia’s Leading SMSF Crypto Accounting Specialists
Cryptocurrency investing has matured significantly for SMSFs. With the right governance, evidence and long-term strategy, trustees can incorporate digital assets in a way that supports diversification while meeting SIS Act requirements.
This guide outlines the best crypto assets for an SMSF, the commodity-backed stablecoins that meet trustee standards, and the NFT types that may be acceptable with proper valuation evidence.
Contents
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Why Crypto Assets Are Growing in SMSFs
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Bitcoin — The Primary Long-Term SMSF Digital Asset
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Stablecoins Backed by Gold, Silver & Commodities
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Top 3 Commodity-Backed Stablecoins for Trustees
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NFTs in an SMSF — Only Rare, Verifiable Assets
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What Assets SMSFs Should Avoid
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Suggested Crypto Allocation Framework for SMSFs
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Disclaimer
Why Crypto Assets Are Growing in SMSFs
SMSFs are increasingly adopting digital assets because:
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Bitcoin provides long-term, inflation-resistant value.
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Commodity-backed stablecoins offer security and transparency.
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Blockchain assets can diversify portfolios beyond traditional shares and property.
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Younger and more tech-aware trustees want exposure to digital markets.
With correct audit evidence and wallet security, crypto fits within the sole purpose test, investment strategy, and record-keeping obligations of SMSFs.
Bitcoin — The Primary Long-Term SMSF Digital Asset
Bitcoin remains the most suitable crypto asset for superannuation:
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Scarce supply — capped at 21 million.
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Institutional adoption — ETFs, custodians and regulated platforms.
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Transparent valuation — daily market reporting and on-chain verification.
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Strong long-term returns — decade-long performance outpacing most asset classes.
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Audit-friendly — wallet screenshots, TXIDs and valuation reports align with ATO expectations.
For most trustees, Bitcoin is the core digital asset within their fund.
Stablecoins Backed by Gold, Silver & Commodities
Unlike fiat-backed stablecoins—where issuers may be unregulated—commodity-backed tokens offer:
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audited physical reserves
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price stability tied to real assets
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transparent issuance and redemption
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strong chain-of-custody records
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clear valuation evidence at 30 June
These attributes make them suitable as a stability asset inside an SMSF.
Top 3 Commodity-Backed Stablecoins for SMSFs
| Rank | Token | Backing | Why It Suits SMSFs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XAUt — Tether Gold | 1 troy ounce of LBMA-accredited physical gold per token | Highly liquid, bar numbers visible on-chain, redeemable for physical gold. |
| 2 | PAXG — Pax Gold | Fully allocated London Good Delivery gold | Regulated issuer (Paxos), transparent audits, strong exchange support. |
| 3 | AGX — Kinesis Silver Standard | Fully allocated physical silver | SMSFs can diversify into silver exposure with audited reserves. |
These tokens should be held only on cold wallets or reputable, compliant exchanges that provide downloadable transaction reports.
NFTs in an SMSF — Rare, Verifiable, High-Quality Only
NFTs can be held in an SMSF, but trustees must ensure:
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a verifiable market value,
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no personal use (e.g., displaying digital art at home or online personally),
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secure wallet custody,
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proper valuation evidence each financial year.
Suitable NFT Categories
| Category | Why Considered | SMSF Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rare Digital Art NFTs | Scarcity and transparent on-chain ownership | Must show comparable sales or an appraisal. |
| Historical NFTs | Early-era tokens with strong provenance | Long-term collector demand; select carefully. |
| Blue-Chip Collections | High liquidity and reputation (e.g., CryptoPunks) | Purchase through verified, compliant marketplaces only. |
NFTs should be a very small allocation, due to liquidity and valuation challenges.
What Crypto Assets SMSFs Should Avoid
To reduce risk and audit issues, trustees should avoid:
1. Altcoins with no clear use case
Projects with vague whitepapers, low adoption or weak development teams.
2. Meme coins
Highly speculative tokens based purely on hype (e.g., Doge, Shiba, clones).
3. Illiquid, low-volume speculative tokens
Coins with tiny market caps or minimal exchange listings are difficult to value and risky for super funds.
These assets often fail the sole purpose test, valuation rules, and risk management obligations of trustees.
Suggested SMSF Crypto Allocation Framework (Example Only)
Core (70–90%)
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Bitcoin
Long-term anchor asset.
Stability (5–20%)
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XAUt, PAXG, AGX
Commodity-backed stability assets.
Satellite (0–5%)
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Select high-quality NFTs
Only with proper audit documentation.
This structure supports diversification while remaining within acceptable risk parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can my SMSF hold crypto on an exchange?
Yes, but cold wallets are preferred. If using an exchange, it must offer downloadable statements, tax reports and full audit evidence.
Q2. Do I need to update my SMSF investment strategy to include crypto?
Yes. Any fund investing in digital assets must document:
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risk,
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liquidity,
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valuation method,
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asset allocation ranges,
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and why crypto aligns with the members’ retirement goals.
Q3. Are crypto valuations required each year?
Yes. You must obtain a 30 June valuation report or price verification for all digital assets, plus wallet evidence.
Q4. Can an NFT be stored on my personal device?
No. Any personal access breaches the sole purpose test.
All crypto and NFTs must be held solely for the fund.
Q5. Are commodity-backed stablecoins safer than fiat-backed ones?
They offer greater transparency and physical backing, making them more suitable for SMSFs when issued by audited and reputable custodians, but must still be held prudently.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not financial advice. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. SMSF trustees should seek professional advice before acquiring any digital asset. All crypto assets carry risk, and compliance obligations must be met, including valuation evidence, audit records and investment strategy updates. My SMSF does not recommend or endorse any specific tokens; examples are provided for educational purposes only.


