SMSF - Self Managed Super Fund and Bitcoin

This page is interesting for all my fellow Australian Bitcoiners and everyone who has money locked up in Australian Superannuation. Unlike most countries, the Australian Superannuation system allows you to build your retirement wealth your way - with a Self Managed Super Fund. Instead of letting a traditional fund decide where your money goes (usually into low-return assets which don’t even beat inflation), you have full control where you invest your money. You’re making the decision of where the money gets invested, as long as you comply with ATO regulations and laws around Superannuation.

The Harsh Reality
Unfortunately, the truth is brutal - especially Millennials (like myself) and Gen Z are getting absolutely screwed by a broken financial system. We work harder, earn less (in real terms), get taxed more and face a cost of living our parents never had to deal with. Yet we’re told to “trust the system” and let our Superannuation slowly compound in low-return funds that don’t even break even with inflation.

Most traditional Super Funds don’t even keep up with the rising cost of living. Your dollars might grow on paper, but they’re quietly losing value in the real world. Inflation eats your savings, housing keeps running away, and retirement feels more like a fantasy than a plan.

A lot of Australians believe Super would take care of them. But the math doesn’t lie, there’s a good chance your Super won’t be enough to retire comfortably, especially if your fund is tied up in government bonds, weak performing stocks, and ‘safe’ assets like term deposits that are anything but safe when your money is being devalued every year and the bank is able to freeze your assets at will.
This is the reason I don’t just power my personal finances with Bitcoin, but also my retirement savings. In my opinion - there would be not much hope if Bitcoin wouldn’t exist. That’s why Bitcoin is hope.

Why Bitcoin is a great retirement asset
- Recognised asset class by the ATO: Bitcoin is officially classed as property - meaning it’s fully eligible to be held inside an SMSF
- Especially for Millennials and Gen Z, Bitcoin is what property/real estate was for Baby Boomers. Clarity, regulation, securitisation and corporate adoption is happening literally as I write this, giving it green light to be held in retirement funds, as well as a ton of financial products are getting built on top of Bitcoin like ETF’s, income products, credit instruments, lending products etc.
- Long-term capital appreciation: You can withdraw funds tax-free only when you hit preservation age so it forces you to hold Bitcoin long-term, therefore it can compound tax-advantaged until you’re 60 years old
- Assuming a person is 30 years of age, invests AU$10K into Bitcoin - in 30 years, with a ~ 29% compound annual growth rate (according to Michael Saylor) the Bitcoin is worth AU$26.2M (yes, you’ve read that right, 26.2 million) at age 60. Pretty mind blowing, isn’t it?
- If stored correctly, there is absolutely no counterparty risk, no bank, exchange, broker or fund manager between you and your Bitcoin
- Sovereign diversification: You’re insulating your retirement wealth from Australia’s monetary policy, housing bubble and currency debasement

A Self Managed Super Fund is simply a trust fund legal structure for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to its members (the beneficiaries).
I personally have setup my SMSF with a corporate trustee structure. My company (Wittmann Capital & Bitcoin Holdings) acts as the trustee of the fund, but this can also be done with individual trustees, so each member personally acts as a trustee.

Both have pros and cons. Traditionally, Self Managed Super Funds were recommended to be setup only above AU$200K in assets, but the turbocharged growth of Bitcoin is changing the game. I personally did it with less than AU$30K in Super and it has been a great decision so far. I have established it in October 2023 and as of the day I’m writing this in October 2025, my fund is up ~ 320% while managed Super Funds make ~ 8% yearly. It’s not even comparable. The risk-return ratio of Bitcoin has never been better.

Again - this is not financial advice, I’m just sharing my experience. Please make sure to always consult with professionals when making investment decisions, especially when it comes to your retirement savings.

If you are interested in setting up an SMSF and buy Bitcoin with it - or you already have an SMSF and you are interested in building a Bitcoin position with it, check out my fellow Bitcoiner Andy’s site at bitcoinsuper.io, you will find first class information on this website.