Investors remain confident despite cost-of-living pressure

Sydney, Australia – 20 October 2026 – Active Australian investors remain relatively confident about their financial future despite significant concern about the cost of living, while reported changes in trust towards major asset classes vary markedly, according to new research from Block Earner, Ainslie Bullion and Century 21 Home Loans.

The 2026 Australian Hard Assets Report, based on responses from 2,081 investors across Block Earner and Ainslie Bullion’s communities, asked investors about confidence in their financial future, their major concerns over the next five years and whether their trust in different assets as ways to protect or build long-term wealth had changed.

The research found 63% feel somewhat or very confident about their finances over the next five years, compared with 16% who feel unconfident and 21% who are neutral.

When asked to rank their biggest concerns over the next five years, cost of living ranked first, with a report rank score of 80 out of 100, ahead of geopolitical instability at 73. Sharemarket volatility, job insecurity and falling property values ranked considerably lower at 50, 49 and 48 respectively.

“What stands out is that active investors remain relatively confident about their own financial decisions but are much more concerned about the cost of living and what their money will buy over time than short-term movements in markets. The erosion of wealth over time via inflation is scaring investors more than market movements.

“People are not necessarily retreating from investment decisions. They are becoming more considered about the role different assets play, how they preserve value and how they can be used as part of a broader financial position.”

The research asked investors whether their level of trust in Bitcoin, property, cash and gold as ways to protect or build long-term wealth had increased, decreased or remained unchanged over the past year.

Across the combined sample, almost half of respondents, 48%, said their trust in Bitcoin was unchanged, while 25% reported increased trust and 28% reported a decline. This comes against a volatile market backdrop, with Bitcoin having reached an all-time high of around US$126,000 in October 2025 before subsequently retreating significantly.

At the same time, the broader financial infrastructure around Bitcoin continues to develop. Globally, funds and ETFs hold around 1.51 million Bitcoin, equivalent to approximately 7.2% of total supply, while the report puts spot Bitcoin ETF assets at around US$105 billion. Galaxy Research estimates the global crypto-collateralised lending market at US$56.16 billion at the end of Q2 2026.

“The research does not show investors suddenly becoming more bullish or bearish on Bitcoin. Sentiment remains divided. What is changing is the infrastructure around the asset. Bitcoin can increasingly be held and used as collateral, giving existing holders another potential way to access liquidity rather than simply having to make a decision to hold or sell.”

That distinction is becoming more relevant following the recent CGT changes, which take effect from 1 July 2027. While crypto remains subject to CGT on disposal, borrowing against an asset may allow investors to access liquidity without crystallising a gain, depending on how the arrangement is structured.

The research found 64% of respondents said their trust in cash as a way to protect or build long-term wealth had fallen over the past year, including 38% who said it had fallen significantly. Only 11% reported increased trust.

The finding comes after a sustained period of higher inflation. Australian consumer prices increased by around 24% over the five years to June 2026, meaning that, based on cumulative inflation, A$100 today has roughly the purchasing power A$81 had five years ago.

“Cash remains essential for liquidity, meeting expenses and managing short-term financial needs. But after several years of elevated inflation, investors can see very clearly how much purchasing power has been lost over time.

“The issue is not whether investors need cash, but how much wealth they are comfortable leaving in cash for longer periods when its real value is being eroded.” “In today’s age where assets are converted to cash at the tap of a button, the appeal of holding cash is fading.”

Almost half of respondents, 45%, said their trust in property as a way to protect or build long-term wealth was unchanged over the past year, while 37% reported a decline and 18% an increase,

The finding coincides with a weakening property market. National dwelling values fell 1.1% in September and are now 5.2% below their March peak, while 97% of capital-city suburbs recorded falling values over the three months to September (Source: Cotality).

Weaker market conditions, affordability pressures and changes to the taxation of future property investment all form part of the backdrop to the shifts in trust captured by the survey.

Gold recorded the strongest positive change among the asset classes surveyed, with 77% of respondents reporting increased trust in gold as a way to protect or build long-term wealth over the past year and just 4% reporting a decline.

Mr Coombes said the results did not point to a simple shift from traditional investments into alternative assets.

“Gold records the strongest increase in trust in the research, but the broader point is that the trends across different asset classes vary significantly. “Investors are looking at the role different assets play in protecting and building long-term wealth in very different ways.”

The full 2026 Australian Hard Assets Report examines investor attitudes towards financial confidence, wealth creation, purchasing power, asset trust, technology risk and leverage across property, gold and Bitcoin.

The survey was conducted online between August and September 2026 and collected 2,081 responses from the Block Earner and Ainslie Bullion communities. Respondents were recruited through the partner communities and are therefore more engaged with investing than the broader Australian population. The research is not nationally representative and should be read as the views of active Australian investors rather than Australians generally.

The full report is available here: DOWNLOAD REPORT

About Block Earner Block Earner is an Australian fintech building the next generation of credit products for digital asset holders. Through its Crypto-Backed Loans product, customers can borrow AUD against their crypto holdings without selling. Block Earner is registered with AUSTRAC and holds an Australian Credit Licence.

Block Earner was recently awarded Excellence in Consumer Lending at the 2026 FinniesAwards, Australia’s leading fintech industry awards, in recognition of its role in developing practical, regulated digital-asset lending products for Australian consumers and investors.

*The findings are based on 2,081 responses from the Block Earner and Ainslie Bullion investor communities and are not nationally representative. This report is for general information only, not financial product advice. Investing involves risks, including loss of capital. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Web3 Ventures Pty Ltd trading as Block Earner (ACN 655 090 869).