Young Australians Turning to Cryptocurrency to Help Save House Deposits
With property prices surging across the country, many young Australians are finding creative ways to break into the housing market. For 23-year-old electrician Mason from the Gold Coast, the answer wasn’t in long hours on the job — it was in cryptocurrency.
The New Way Gen Z Is Building Wealth
Despite earning between $90,000 and $110,000 a year, Mason quickly realised traditional saving methods wouldn’t be enough to reach his goal of homeownership. The median house price on the Gold Coast has soared to $1.32 million, putting it on par with Sydney’s property market.
So, like many young Aussies, Mason turned to the digital world.
After a failed first attempt at crypto investing when he was 18, he re-entered the market at 21, this time taking a more patient and strategic approach. His investments in Arweave and Ripple (XRP) grew significantly — helping him save over $100,000 to use as a house deposit.
“Crypto Was the Only Way”
“Crypto was the only way I could think of to get into the housing market young,” Mason said.
“There’s no way I would’ve been able to save the same amount of money just by working.”
He’s now planning to purchase a $700,000 unit — far above what he could’ve afforded through income alone.
A Growing Trend Among Young Investors
Mason’s story reflects a national shift.
A YouGov survey commissioned by Australian exchange Swyftx found that one in three Gen Z Australians are now investing in digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The report also revealed that:
82% of Gen Z crypto traders made a profit in the past year.
Their average profit was around $10,000 — the equivalent of six weeks’ salary.
Over 1.8 million Gen Z Australians have entered the crypto market in recent years.
Swyftx CEO Jason Titman said soaring real estate prices have driven young people to seek alternative investments.
“There is a feeling among Gen Z investors that if you want to get on the property ladder, you need exposure to more volatile assets,” he explained.
The Risks of a Volatile Market
While Mason’s crypto journey has been successful, he cautions others to do their homework.
“It’s just like stocks — you don’t buy something just because some guy on TikTok told you to,” he said.
“Make sure you do your own research and understand where your money’s going.”
