How to Buy Crypto with Macquarie Bank
- Macquarie Group cut its spot Bitcoin and Ether ETF holdings by 19 and 9.5 percent respectively in a recent SEC filing.
- The same filing showed Macquarie building a new $41.5 million stake in BitMine, an Ethereum treasury company.
- Macquarie Bank still doesn’t offer crypto trading itself, so buying crypto still means transferring AUD to a separate exchange like eToro.
Macquarie’s own trading desk tells a more complicated story than a simple bet on or against crypto. A recent SEC filing showed the group cut its BlackRock spot Bitcoin ETF holdings by about 19 percent and its Ether ETF position by roughly 9.5 percent, while simultaneously building a new stake worth about $41.5 million in BitMine, a company that holds Ethereum on its own balance sheet. That’s not a retreat from crypto so much as a shift in how Macquarie prefers to get exposure to it.
Can You Buy Crypto With Macquarie Bank?
Not directly. Macquarie Bank doesn’t offer crypto trading or custody to retail customers, regardless of what its institutional arm does with ETFs or equity stakes. What it does allow is AUD transfers to separately regulated exchanges, without unusual restriction.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Buy Crypto with Macquarie Bank
Create an eToro account.
Register on eToro’s site with your name, email, and a password, then complete identity verification.
Link your Macquarie account.
In eToro’s deposit section, choose bank transfer and enter your Macquarie account details for AUD transfers.
Deposit AUD funds.
Transfer funds from Macquarie to credit your eToro trading balance. Try comparing current sign-up offers across exchanges before you can fund an account for the first time.
Buy your cryptocurrency.
Choose a crypto asset you want, enter an amount, and confirm.
Where eToro Stands Under Australia’s New Rules
eToro AUS Capital Limited holds an Australian Financial Services Licence, AFSL 491139, from ASIC. This puts it ahead of Australia’s Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, the law that now requires an AFSL for most crypto platforms operating in the country.
That framework received Royal Assent in April 2026, with a transition period that closed on June 30. Buyers can confirm any platform’s licence status directly on ASIC’s public register.
Macquarie’s Approach to Cryptocurrency
Macquarie Bank permits transfers to AUSTRAC and ASIC regulated exchanges without offering a crypto product of its own to retail customers. That stance sits somewhat apart from what Macquarie’s institutional side is doing with ETFs and equity positions like BitMine, which reflects portfolio strategy rather than any product retail account holders can access.
If Macquarie Restricts a Transfer
If a transfer to a crypto exchange gets flagged, a more crypto accommodating bank can serve as an intermediary, or a payment service that supports crypto linked transfers can bridge the gap. Either route still ends at the same exchange registration step above.
Conclusion
Macquarie’s institutional moves this year say more about how the bank manages its own balance sheet than about what’s available to a retail customer. For actually buying crypto, the process hasn’t changed: fund an AFSL licensed exchange like eToro, and confirm that licence status directly rather than assuming it.
FAQs
Does Macquarie Bank allow crypto purchases directly?
No. Macquarie Bank doesn’t let customers directly buy, sell, or hold crypto. Account holders can transfer AUD to a regulated exchange like eToro instead.
Why did Macquarie reduce its Bitcoin ETF holdings?
A recent SEC filing showed a roughly 19 percent cut to its spot Bitcoin ETF position, alongside a new stake in BitMine, an Ethereum treasury company. The filing doesn’t specify a reason, and a single quarter’s rebalancing doesn’t necessarily signal a broader retreat from crypto.
What is the best exchange for Macquarie Bank customers?
eToro remains a solid option, holding a full AFSL from ASIC and supporting AUD deposits directly from Macquarie accounts.
Can I withdraw crypto back into my Macquarie account?
No. Crypto holdings need to be sold for AUD on the exchange first. Only the resulting cash balance can be transferred back to a Macquarie account.
Sources
