%201.webp)
IG Group has launched the IG Markets cryptocurrency trading app for Australian retail investors, its first direct crypto offering in the country.
The mobile-only app lets users buy and sell digital assets in Australian dollars. It offers trading in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Cardano and Solana, along with a smaller range of meme coins.
The launch builds on IG's push into the local crypto market following its acquisition of Independent Reserve, one of Australia's longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges. The deal added Independent Reserve's exchange infrastructure and customer base of 500,000 to the group.
IG is entering a market where digital asset ownership continues to rise. Research cited from the 2026 Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index found that 33% of Australians now own cryptocurrency, up from 31% a year earlier and 27.5% two years earlier. Awareness of cryptocurrency has reached 95% nationally.
Among Australians aged 25 to 34, the survey found that 53% hold digital assets. The figures suggest retail demand has remained strong despite several years of volatility in global crypto markets.
Michael Jones, Managing Director AUNZ at IG Markets Australia, said the launch reflects a gap between investor demand and the services available in the market.
"With a third of the adult population owning crypto, it's clear that the product has graduated to a mainstream asset class. There's clear demand from Australians who are looking beyond the property market for ways to build and grow wealth. What hasn't kept pace is the availability of platforms that meet the standards Australian investors should expect from any serious financial product," Jones said.
IG is targeting investors who may already trade shares and want a familiar app-based experience. The interface is designed to resemble mainstream retail investing products rather than specialist crypto exchanges.
Wealth shift
Separate survey data cited by IG suggests digital assets are becoming part of a broader rethink about saving and investing, especially among younger Australians. In a study of 2,003 adults, nearly one in four respondents said cryptocurrency was the most likely way to achieve financial independence over the next 15 years, behind property but ahead of shares and exchange-traded funds.
That rose to 27% among people aged 18 to 39. The same survey found that 15.5% viewed Bitcoin or cryptocurrency as the best long-term investment, while 81% of first-home buyers who had held crypto said they would consider using gains from those investments towards a housing deposit.
It also found that 14% of renters were actively saving for a home through cryptocurrency investments. Close to 39% of Australians under 40 agreed that renting long-term and investing in crypto was a smarter strategy than buying property.
"Australians, particularly younger Australians, are looking at the housing market, looking at where wages are going, and making rational decisions about where to put their money," Jones said.
"We're not here to tell people crypto is a replacement for property or any other asset class. But the data tells us millions of Australians already see crypto as a legitimate part of how they build wealth. They deserve a platform that takes that seriously, and we're here to support them on that journey," he added.
Regulatory backdrop
The launch comes as Australia moves towards a more formal regulatory framework for digital assets. New legislation will bring crypto exchanges under the Australian Financial Services Licence regime for the first time, with a transition period for operators to secure the required authorisations.
According to the 2026 Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index, 51% of Australians said passage of the Digital Assets Framework Bill would increase their confidence in using crypto exchanges. The same research found that 67% now view Bitcoin as a legitimate financial asset, such as an investment or store of value.
Tony Sycamore, Chief Market Analyst at IG Markets, said the policy changes reflect the market's size and visibility.
"The incoming licensing framework is a signal that crypto has become too significant for regulators to leave in a grey zone. Recent ATO statistics show that self-managed super funds hold more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency alone. Some of the largest super funds are actively exploring offering crypto as an investment option to members. The market is maturing to the point it can't be ignored," Sycamore said.
"What we're seeing is the infrastructure catching up to demand, and IG's entry is part of that. We've always operated in regulated financial markets around the world and are bringing that level of rigour and care to our crypto offering," he added.
The app includes client money segregation from company funds and uses Independent Reserve's local exchange setup. Support is available during Australian business hours, with additional digital customer service channels outside those times.
IG has operated in leveraged trading and investment products for decades, and the launch puts it in more direct competition with retail crypto exchanges seeking to attract mainstream Australian investors.