← All Insights · Melbourne Guide
Crypto Advisor in Melbourne: How to Find the Right Help
Licensed adviser, tax agent or research and education? A Melbourne guide to the options, written by the team that has been based here since 2020.
Short answer: For personal crypto advice in Melbourne, use a licensed financial adviser you have checked on the Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register. For tax returns, use a registered tax agent. Collective Shift is a research and education company founded in Melbourne in 2020, based in Southbank and led by TEDx speaker Ben Simpson. It teaches the 5-step SHIFT Method, and it does not give personal financial advice.
Key points (TL;DR)
- Melbourne advisers follow the same national licensing rules as everyone else, so check the Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register first.
- Collective Shift was founded in Melbourne in 2020 and works from Level 28, Freshwater Place in Southbank.
- The research team, led by Director of Research Matt Willemsen, and the live sessions run from Melbourne.
- Collective Shift provides education and research, not personal financial advice.
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 135+ verified Trustpilot reviews.
What kind of crypto help do you need in Melbourne?
Most people who search for a crypto advisor in Melbourne need one of three things, and each one is checked in a different place.
| You need | Who to look for | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Personal advice on your super, investments or overall plan | A licensed financial adviser | Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register |
| Your crypto tax return | A registered tax agent | Tax Practitioners Board register |
| To learn a method and follow research | A research and education service | ABN Lookup, the disclaimer and public reviews |
Collective Shift sits in the third row. Collective Shift provides education and research, not personal financial advice. It does not hold your crypto, and it does not tell you what to buy or sell for your situation.
Watch: Ben Simpson on this topic
Key points from the video
- The video explains the Australian Government’s proposed capital gains tax changes, which Ben says were planned to start on 1 July 2027 and were not yet law when he recorded it.
- As described in the video, the 50 percent CGT discount for assets held over 12 months would be replaced by indexing the cost base to CPI, with a 30 percent minimum tax on capital gains.
- Gains up to 1 July 2027 would still be assessed under the current rules, so the video notes there is no need to rush to sell.
- Ben notes that self-managed super funds were not affected by the proposal as described.
- Ben is clear that he is not a registered tax adviser and suggests speaking with your own accountant about structures.
When would the proposed CGT changes start?
According to the video, the proposal was planned to start on 1 July 2027, subject to it passing into law.
Would SMSFs be affected?
Ben says self-managed super funds were not affected by the proposal as described in the video.
Summary of Ben Simpson’s video on the proposed 2027 capital gains tax changes for Australian crypto investors, written from the video transcript. General education only.
Key takeaway: Ben stresses that gains made before 1 July 2027 keep the current treatment, so there is no need to rush to sell, and he walks through a worked example of how the split calculation works.
Why does it matter that Collective Shift is based in Melbourne?
Collective Shift was founded in Melbourne in 2020 by Ben Simpson, a TEDx speaker (Why You Should Care About Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets, TEDxCecilStreet, September 2022), and the company still runs from here. Our listed address is Level 28, Freshwater Place, Southbank VIC 3006. The team of 15+ staff includes Director of Research Matt Willemsen and Head of Education and Senior Analyst Simon Amery, who present the research and the live workshops members join each week.
Being local does not make anyone a better adviser, and we are not an adviser at all. What it does give you is a real company you can check: a named team, an Australian ABN (78 650 977 325) and an office address, which you can compare with any service you are considering. The checks below work the same way for us as for anyone else.
How do you check a crypto adviser in Melbourne?
- Search the person’s name on the Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register. The register lists every adviser authorised to give personal advice in Australia, wherever they live.
- Check the licensee (the AFS licence holder) on the ASIC registers.
- Ask what their licence lets them advise on, and how they are paid. Not every licence covers crypto or every investment product.
- For crypto tax returns, check the agent on the Tax Practitioners Board register.
- Read Moneysmart: Choosing a financial adviser before your first meeting.
The questions to ask, and the warning signs, are covered in our national guide to crypto advisors in Australia. This page adds what is specific to Melbourne.
What does crypto tax look like for someone in Melbourne?
Crypto tax is federal, so the rules in Melbourne are the same as anywhere else in Australia. The ATO treats crypto as a capital gains tax asset, so selling, swapping or spending it is usually a disposal you report, and the 12-month CGT discount can apply to assets held long enough. The ATO explains this on ATO: Crypto asset investments and in ATO: Acquiring and disposing of crypto assets.
Victorian state taxes such as land tax and stamp duty do not apply to crypto itself, so in practice your crypto tax question is a federal one for the ATO and your tax agent. Melbourne has plenty of registered tax agents, and the TPB register lets you confirm any of them before you hand over your records.
Keep records of every buy, sell and swap from day one, because that is what your tax agent will ask for. Our what records you need for crypto tax in Australia guide lists what to keep. This page is general information only, not tax, legal or personal financial advice. Speak with a registered tax agent or solicitor about your own situation.
How does the SHIFT Method work?
Every member follows the same five steps, so the plan comes before any coin:
- Set your plan in writing. Goals, position sizes and exit rules go on your Strategy Sheet, your own written plan.
- Hold Bitcoin as your core. Bitcoin is the base of the portfolio, ideally held in self-custody.
- Invest in on-chain businesses with real revenue. Projects with real users and fees, not stories.
- Filter every coin before you buy. Unlocks, dilution and liquidity are checked first.
- Take profits on the way up. Planned partial sales on your Profit Ladder, made by plan, not panic.
The Accelerator membership runs for 12 months and starts with a 4-week live strategy build, then gives you research, the Academy, the Live Crypto Portfolio (see our analysts’ portfolio buys and sells) and a weekly live analyst Q&A. Platinum adds 8 private analyst sessions a year, weekly Foundations and Strategy Workshops, a dedicated client success manager and two in-person masterminds a year.
Who is Collective Shift?
Collective Shift is a crypto research and education company founded in Melbourne in 2020 by Ben Simpson, a TEDx speaker (Why You Should Care About Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets, TEDxCecilStreet, September 2022). It has 15+ staff, 1,000+ members and a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 135+ verified Trustpilot reviews. Collective Shift Pty Ltd holds ABN 78 650 977 325, which you can check on the Australian Business Register. Every member works through the 5-step SHIFT Method: Set your plan in writing, Hold Bitcoin as your core, Invest in on-chain businesses with real revenue, Filter every coin before you buy, Take profits on the way up. You can check the company facts on our page Is Collective Shift legit?
What is your next step?
If you want a structured way to learn, the first step is to book a private 1-on-1 strategy call. You can read about the Accelerator membership and the Platinum membership first, or read member success stories. Both memberships carry a 14-day money-back guarantee, with conditions in the policy. Collective Shift provides education and research, not personal financial advice. It does not hold your crypto, and it does not tell you what to buy or sell for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Are there crypto financial advisers in Melbourne?
Yes. Search the Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register and check whether the adviser’s licence covers the products you want to ask about. A licence that covers shares does not always cover crypto.
Where is Collective Shift based?
Collective Shift was founded in Melbourne in 2020 and is based at Level 28, Freshwater Place, Southbank VIC 3006. Members across Australia and overseas join online.
Is Collective Shift a financial adviser?
No. Collective Shift provides education and research, not personal financial advice. For advice on your own situation, use a licensed financial adviser you have checked on the Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register.
What is the SHIFT Method?
The SHIFT Method is the 5-step process every Collective Shift member follows: Set your plan in writing, Hold Bitcoin as your core, Invest in on-chain businesses with real revenue, Filter every coin before you buy, Take profits on the way up. Founder Ben Simpson, a TEDx speaker, built it so the plan comes before any coin.
What happens on a strategy call?
You book a private 1-on-1 strategy call with the Collective Shift team. It is a conversation about where you are and whether a membership suits you. It is not personal financial advice. Accelerator and Platinum both carry a 14-day money-back guarantee, with conditions in the policy.
Where this guide comes from
- Collective Shift, About Us and Organization schema, /about-collective-shift/ (accessed 2 Nov 2026)
- ASIC registers and Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register (accessed 2 Nov 2026)
- Australian Taxation Office, Crypto asset investments (accessed 2 Nov 2026)
- Collective Shift Academy: the 5-step SHIFT Method and Strategy Sheet
- Ben Simpson, TEDxCecilStreet talk, September 2022 (ted.com)
- YouTube: BIG Tax Changes for Crypto Investors In Australia. What You Need To Know, Ben Simpson, 2026-05-15
Collective Shift live sessions and Academy lessons are available to members. This guide is general education only and is not personal financial advice.
Last updated 2 Nov 2026. Written by the Collective Shift team.
General information only. Collective Shift provides research and education, not personal financial advice. We don’t manage your money or hold your crypto. Consider your own circumstances and speak with a licensed adviser and a registered tax agent before acting. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Your Digital Asset Co-Pilot
Turn Noise Into Strategy. Turn Strategy Into Wealth.
You keep the controls while our research analysts sit in the co-pilot seat. Book a private 1-on-1 strategy call to map your Strategy Sheet, the 5-step SHIFT Method, and the right Collective Shift membership for your portfolio.
5-Step SHIFT Method 4.8/5 from 135+ Trustpilot Reviews · 1,000+ Members 100% Self-Custody & Independent Research
Collective Shift Research Architecture
The 5-Step SHIFT Method Inside the Wealth Engine
Every research note inside Collective Shift maps directly to the 5-step SHIFT Method so you stay in control of your capital.
The Wealth Engine Process
The 5-Step SHIFT Method
Every Collective Shift membership runs on the same five-step operating system inside the Wealth Engine. Process comes first, proof comes second, and outcomes follow from written rules rather than emotion.
S
Set Your Plan in Writing
Build your written Strategy Sheet before deploying capital so position sizing, risk limits, and invalidation rules are locked in advance.
H
Hold Bitcoin as Your Core
Anchor your portfolio around long-term Bitcoin conviction in 100% self-custody before taking selective altcoin exposure.
I
Invest in On-Chain Revenue
Focus on on-chain businesses with real fee generation, sustainable tokenomics, and verifiable user adoption, alongside the Live Crypto Portfolio (see our analysts’ portfolio buys and sells).
F
Filter Every Coin First
Run every asset through our Fundamental Asset Evaluation Framework, checking token unlock schedules, dilution, and liquidity before buying.
T
Take Profits on the Way Up
Execute pre-planned partial exits using your Profit Ladder so paper gains convert into realised wealth without guessing the exact cycle top.