Australian Regulator Gives Green Light to App-Based Retail Bitcoin Fund

The bitcoin fund is being launched by micro-investment app provider Raiz Invest Australia.

AccessTimeIconJan 20, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:05 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global event for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Australia's finance watchdog has given the go-ahead to a bitcoin fund aimed at retail investors.

The first such fund in the country, the bitcoin offering is being launched by micro-investment app provider Raiz Invest Australia, reports The Australian Financial Review.

  • Australia to Release Draft Legislation for Crypto Exchanges in 2024; Is Binance Too Big to Fail?
    26:19
    Australia to Release Draft Legislation for Crypto Exchanges in 2024; Is Binance Too Big to Fail?
  • Crypto Startup Investments Fall for Fifth Consecutive Quarter: Pitchbook Data
    01:13
    Crypto Startup Investments Fall for Fifth Consecutive Quarter: Pitchbook Data
  • Australia's CBDC Pilot Shows 'Path Forward' for a Tokenized Economy: Canvas CEO
    08:55
    Australia's CBDC Pilot Shows 'Path Forward' for a Tokenized Economy: Canvas CEO
  • Australia Won't Introduce a CBDC for Some Years, Central Bank Says
    02:31
    Australia Won't Introduce a CBDC for Some Years, Central Bank Says
  • The Raiz app allows users to invest the small change left over from everyday purchases in exchange-traded funds quoted on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Once live (expected sometime in H1 2020), the bitcoin option will still see the bulk of user funds go to ETFs, but 5 percent will be allocated to the cryptocurrency, according to the report.

    Raiz was granted relief to operate the fund from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which also has oversight over the crypto industry in the country.

    The Raiz app is said to have had over 600,000 users and revenue of over A$3 million (US$2.06 million) in 2019, according to Wikipedia.

    ASX-listed DigitalX also offers a bitcoin fund in Australia, however, that's aimed at professional investors. The firm seeded the fund with half its bitcoin holdings, DigitalX announced at the launch in November 2019.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.