Cryptocurrency is no longer the domain of entrepreneurial Gen Z or millennial investor. In a reverse but quickly emerging trend, over-65s in Australia are hurrying to be on the ground floor of digital assets, but cautious, conservative approach, and long game.
It’s only five years since the number of older Aussies investing in crypto currency has grown exponentially. In 2019, only 2% of Australians aged 65 and above had any kind of crypto. Bring the clock forward to present day, and 8.2% now do. With approximately 6.5 million Aussies investing in digital currencies in total, this shift among the baby boomers is a sea change for the investment culture of the nation.
Reinventing Retirement Schemes
For most retirees, investment in cryptocurrency is far less about attempting to catch the wave of popularity or good fortune and more about a conscious choice to preserve wealth. Stocks, property, and fixed deposits have been investment staples for many decades, but increasingly older Australians are seeking to diversify by adding a small percentage of digital assets to the mix.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are increasingly becoming stores of value alternatives. Decentralized and scarce, they have turned into an inflation hedge and currency volatility to others. To retirees who would want to preserve capital in the long run, this popularity is catching up.
Financial planners across the country are telling them that they are getting a consistent flow of retirees coming to them for guidance on crypto, it is most notably those with self-managed superannuation funds.
Self-managed superannuation funds offer a common point of entry for older Australians to make their way into crypto, with investors placing a modest, conservative percentage of their portfolio in digital assets.
The Human Side of the Trend
Consider, for example, the experience of Brisbane couple Terry and Justine Sanders. They had invested $48,000 in Bitcoin in 2019 attracted by its potential to be an asset of the future. Their four-year-old investment was worth more than $500,000.
The pair admits they never discussed their investment. All but one of their friends were skeptical, or bluntly dismissive, of the prospects for cryptocurrency. “Most of our friends said we were stupid or crazy,” says Justine. But their experience, while not typical, was by no means rare. Growing numbers of older Australians are dipping their toes into crypto, typically without fanfare and with thorough investigation.
Advisers Finding a Shift
Crypto planners and investment advisers are noticing a sudden spike in client interest among people who are 65 years and older. One adviser in Brisbane approximated that nearly one-third of her 700 clients were retirees. They are introduced by mature children or learn about crypto from news headlines and social media.
They are not gambling. They are investing small sums of money, typically 2% to 5% of their total portfolio, into testing the waters. They are not attempting “get rich quick” but diversify portfolios with something that has the potential to grow in a new economy.
What’s Next for the Industry
Growing needs from baby boomers are transforming the game of how the world of crypto works. Websites and exchanges are beginning to cater to older clients now, with easier-to-use interfaces, greater customer support, and focused education centers. It’s crypto adoption not about youth, it’s about access and legitimacy now.
With this aging population comes increased regulatory scrutiny. Elderly Australians are particularly at risk of being swindled, and fraud in-question is on the rise in targeting consumers of crypto through phishing, wallet phishing, or impersonation. Regulators such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) are taking no prisoners in keeping protection mechanisms and action-guiding policy in place in anticipation of take-up.
SMSFs and the Rise of Crypto
The growth of crypto within SMSFs is also a visual display of how far this trend has penetrated. SMSFs held A$200 million in crypto assets combined in 2019, whereas in 2024 it had more than doubled to over A$1.6 billion.
This type of growth would be increasing confidence, not necessarily the investor, institutional. There are SMSF trustees partnering with traditional exchanges to onboard crypto assets safely, and are implementing methods of reducing risk. Sure, as enticing as the possible reward is, advisers are keen to outline the reality that volatility is a problem, especially for fixed-income retirees.
Baby Boomers (1946–1964)
1 in 10 Boomers in Australia now hold Bitcoin.Looking for secure alternatives to traditional investments, many Boomers are turning to Bitcoin to protect and grow their savings.
Trusted platforms and easy-to-use ATMs are key enablers.#Boomers #Crypto
— ByteFederal Australia (@ByteFederalAU) May 21, 2025
Balancing Opportunity with Caution
While some of the rest of the baby boomers have enjoyed unbelievable returns, others are coming into it with caution. ASIC has issued a warning notice regarding cryptocurrency as a high-risk space, particularly for those nearing or already in retirement. Volatility is widespread and rapid, one of the reasons that crypto must be a minority part of a diversified portfolio, says the majority of advisers.
It’s still education. Without a good handle on crypto, how to store it safely, how not to get robbed, and how to gauge risk, small investments are a headache.
Also Read: Solana’s DeFi TVL Soars as Ecosystem Momentum Builds
A Multi-Generational Movement
What’s happening is a wider, more expansive crypto economy. Internet money was years ago called youth money, crazy money. But here again, Australia’s baby boomers are breaking the mold. They’re not at the head of the pack, instead, they’re inexorably shifting into an evolving financial environment.
This may be a revolutionary shift. The greater the confidence established by investors with more experience, the greater they can push to demand better protected products, better protected products, and improved education. The world of cryptocurrency, once relegated to the fringes, is quickly moving towards the mainstream and being accepted.
Conclusion
Baby boomers are no longer sitting on the sidelines of the crypto revolution. They’re coming quietly with intent and resolve, experience, funds, and fresh eyes injecting vitality into the crypto arena.
Australia’s financial future can be a quantum leap ahead of history. With digital assets knocking on retirement savings’ door, the country has a once-only opportunity to build an inclusive crypto economy for all generations to come.
