New research from cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve shows that one in 10 Aussie first-home buyers are using crypto to help fund a property purchase.
Young Victorians are turning to cryptocurrency, rent-vesting and buying smaller properties as they chase the Great Australian Dream of home ownership.
Despite cost-of-living pressures and rising interest rates, Gen Z and Millennials are also looking to regional areas and relying on family help to secure a place of their own.
New research from Australian-based cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve shows that one in 10 Aussie first-home buyers are using crypto to help fund a home purchase, while more than 80 per cent of crypto investors are planning to use their profits for a home deposit.
RELATED: Australia’s mortgage belt betting big on Bitcoin
Victorian homebuyers take biggest mortgage gamble to enter market
Sellers in Victoria threaten to ditch auctions over reserve price rule
Separate data from mortgage brokerage and financial services group Loan Market indicates more than half of Australians aged 18 to 24 years old, along with 69 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds, believe home ownership is important for wealth creation – a fact 78 per cent of Victorians surveyed agreed with.
Loan Market’s survey of 1000 Australians was completed earlier this year, while the Independent Reserve surveyed 2000 people.
The latter study found that 55 per cent of first-home buyers believe Bitcoin – an internet-based currency that operates without a central bank or single administrator – could play a role in helping them buy a home within five years.
Commodities, cryptocurrency, managed funds and share portfolios are helping many young buyers build their home deposit, alongside traditional cash savings.
Melbourne-based Loan Market mortgage broker Samuel Power said young people were still keen buy their own residence but were usually forced to compromise based on affordability, whether it was through looking at regional areas, smaller properties or rent-vesting.
They’re also leveraging government schemes, getting help from their parents or living at home for longer in order to save up.
Mr Power said that compared to five years ago, it was now common for first-home buyers to use various assets to build up their deposit alongside traditional cash savings.
Resources such as commodities like gold or silver, cryptocurrency, managed funds and share portfolios are all in the mix.
But his advice for young people wanting to save up included basics such as cooking more meals at home, having just one streaming subscription service, being smart about discretionary expenses and seeking expert help.
“I’d say really start as early as you can, with as much help as you can, is the best methodology to achieve that target,” Mr Power said.
Digital currency Bitcoin was released in 2009, which marked the start of decentralised currencies with no tangible assets held in reserve, in their current form.
Digital currency exchange Bitcoin.com.au’s general manager Nic Roberts said with most salaries no longer being enough to get into Australian property market, younger people – especially those under 40 – were looking to digital currencies for an advantage.
Mr Roberts said some companies, outside of the big banks, would now accept cryptocurrency as collateral for a home loan.
And many Aussies who have used crypto to build a home deposit have been investing in the currency for the three to five years, or longer.
Bitcoin.com.au general manager Nic Roberts says many people who have used cyprocurrency to build a hope deposit have been investing in electronic money for three to five years.
“A lot of those people that got into crypto early did really well and have used those funds to get into the property market,” Mr Roberts said.
“But even in the last five years, the performance of the assets been quite good, where people have been able to take some take some profits and take some wins, or just accelerate the time it would have taken them to actually get into the property market.”
Sometimes, high enough profits from cryptocurrency can shave years off the time it takes to save up for a home deposit.
But Mr Roberts warned crypto was not a get-rich-quick scheme and required a longer-term mindset.
PropTrack’s latest Home Price Index shows Melbourne’s median house value hit $1.005m, in April 2026. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling.
Cryptocurrency education and coaching company Digital Wealth Group’s founder Sydel Sierra said it was possible to save for a deposit using crypto.
Some stockholders start out with just a few hundred dollars while others put in larger lump sums.
“There are consequences if investors don’t know what they’re doing with digital assets, so it’s vital they get the right advice,” Ms Sierra said.
“I don’t think first home buyers should view crypto as a guaranteed ‘house deposit machine’ – it’s a higher risk, high volatility asset and people need to understand that clearly before entering the market.”
Digital Wealth Group founder Sydel Sierra says it’s important for people wanting to invest in crypto to do their research, as it’s a higher risk, high volatility asset.
Ms Sierra said the reality of crypto outcomes was that they could vary enormously depending on timing, market cycles and risk management.
“I personally started with $5000 and grew that to $30,000 really quickly, and then from $30k to $300,000 within the space of six months,” she added.
“This was enough to get me going. Within two cycles I had grown that well past seven figures and could buy some townhouses and even some luxury top end properties with cash.”
In addition, she said younger Australians were increasingly viewing Bitcoin and other top cryptocurrencies as a legitimate long-term asset alongside property, rather than instead of property.
“For some, Bitcoin feels more accessible because you can start small, whereas property often feels completely out of reach,” the company founder said.
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Australian borrowers cut luxuries as mortgage pressure rises
ABS data reveals ‘scary’ $724k average home loan
Ross Noble lists $3.6m Peninsula home ahead of UK relocation
English (US) · 