HardBlock
HardBlock is an Australian Bitcoin-only exchange, founded in 2014, that enables retail investors, SMSF trustees, and businesses to buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin against AUD through a self-serve web platform, earning revenue solely from a 1.80% bid-ask spread.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What HardBlock does
HardBlock (legal entity Triple Link Labs Pty Ltd) is an Australian proprietary limited company that operates a Bitcoin-only exchange platform headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 2014 by Daniel Wilczynski, the company serves three customer segments: individual retail investors, Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) trustees, and a smaller cohort of business clients, all transacting BTC against AUD. HardBlock is registered with ASIC (ABN 7462 4353 331) and AUSTRAC and describes itself as Australia's longest-running Bitcoin-only exchange. Customers onboard, deposit AUD via PayID/EFT/POLi, and execute BTC trades through a self-serve web platform; no mobile app is offered.
The product suite centers on a BTC/AUD spot exchange augmented by rule-based automation. Auto-Buy converts incoming AUD deposits into Bitcoin automatically; Auto-Send and Auto-Withdraw sweep Bitcoin and AUD above user-defined thresholds, with weekly batching to minimize on-chain fees; Recurring-Buy and Recurring-Sell enable scheduled dollar-cost averaging. A dedicated SMSF account type supports retirement-savings BTC investment, while Lightning Network support (with Wallet of Satoshi, Phoenix, and Alby integrations) enables near-instant BTC transfers. Custody is handled through GuardBlock, a separately branded time-locked, multi-signature cold storage solution enforced on-chain by the Bitcoin protocol. As of July 2026, HardBlock restricts Bitcoin withdrawals to self-custodial wallets only, in order to comply with AUSTRAC Travel Rule requirements while preserving customer privacy.
The revenue model is narrow and fully disclosed: all revenue is generated from a 1.80% bid-ask spread on BTC/AUD trades (0.90% above market on buys, 0.90% below on sells). No trading, deposit, or account fees are charged, and Bitcoin network and Lightning fees are passed through at cost (typically under 1,000 sats per on-chain withdrawal; 0.3% plus routing for Lightning). HardBlock operates with 1–10 employees, has raised no disclosed institutional funding, and is bootstrapped. Customer acquisition relies on a 30%-of-spread referral program, an affiliate program for content publishers, the HardBlock Learn educational platform, and the Australian Bitcoin Podcast, in which the CEO participates.
HardBlock firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HardBlock
- Legal name
- Triple Link Labs Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://hardblock.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HardBlock is an Australian Bitcoin-only exchange, founded in 2014, that enables retail investors, SMSF trustees, and businesses to buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin against AUD through a self-serve web platform, earning revenue solely from a 1.80% bid-ask spread.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HardBlock industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury) (FSAGAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mint/Redeem, Issuance APIs & Treasury Operations Platforms (FSADADAE)
Keywords
Where HardBlock is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
HardBlock business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Spread Revenue: HardBlock's sole revenue source is the spread — the difference between the buy and sell price of Bitcoin. The current spread is 1.80%, meaning customers buy 0.90% above market and sell 0.90% below. No trading fees or deposit fees are charged.
- Bitcoin Withdrawal Fees: Fees charged for Bitcoin withdrawals to cover miner network fees. Automated withdrawals cost 400 Sats fixed fee (AU$0.36 at time of writing). Manual withdrawals are market-rate based on mempool.space data, typically under 1,000 Sats. HardBlock does not profit from these fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Exchange Rate (Spread) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Automated Bitcoin Withdrawal (Auto-Send) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Manual Bitcoin Withdrawal |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Lightning Network Withdrawal |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dollar Withdrawal (AUD) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Consulting Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
HardBlock product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HardBlock is an Australian Bitcoin-only exchange platform that enables individuals and businesses to buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin using AUD. The platform provides automated dollar-cost averaging (DCA) features, Lightning Network withdrawals, dedicated Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) accounts, and integrated GuardBlock multi-signature cold storage for custody of customer Bitcoin.
Product overview
HardBlock is a Bitcoin-only exchange platform operating since 2014, offering Australians a unified platform to buy, sell, and store Bitcoin. The core product is the HardBlock Bitcoin Exchange, which provides spot trading of BTC/AUD with revenue derived from the spread. The platform's main modules include Auto-Buy and Auto-Send for dollar-cost averaging automation, Recurring-Buy/Recurring-Sell for scheduled transactions, and Auto-Withdraw for automated AUD management. HardBlock also offers dedicated SMSF Bitcoin Investment Accounts for self-managed superannuation funds and operates HardBlock Learn as an educational resource hub. The ecosystem includes a Referral Program (30% of spread for referrers) and an Affiliate Program (for platform/podcast promoters). Security is enhanced through GuardBlock cold storage with multi-signature protection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HardBlock Bitcoin Exchange Core online exchange platform where Australian customers can create an account, complete identity verification, deposit AUD via PayID/EFT/POLi, and buy or sell Bitcoin. Includes 2FA security, automated DCA tools, Lightning and on-chain Bitcoin withdrawals, and AUD withdrawals. Targets individual retail investors.
- SMSF Bitcoin Investment Account Dedicated account type for Self-Managed Superannuation Fund trustees who want to invest retirement funds in Bitcoin, with separate bank and exchange accounts held in the fund's name and integration for audit and compliance reporting.
- GuardBlock Cold Storage Secure time-locked, multi-signature cold storage solution for Bitcoin that eliminates single points of failure and is enforced on-chain by the Bitcoin protocol. Used to secure HardBlock customer holdings and available as a standalone offering at guardblock.com.
Quantifiable outcome
- No trading or hidden withdrawal fees — only spread and transparent network fees
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use HardBlock
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HardBlock technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
HardBlock partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GuardBlockcoreGuardBlock provides secure time-locked, multi-signature cold storage for HardBlock customer Bitcoin holdings. Eliminates single points of failure and is enforced on-chain by the Bitcoin protocol. Prominently featured on HardBlock's homepage as a security badge.
- SMSF WarehouseminorSMSF Warehouse is an SMSF administrator/organization recommended by HardBlock for clients setting up a Self-Managed Super Fund for Bitcoin investment. Clients are encouraged to use their service for SMSF establishment and maintenance.
- Australian Bitcoin PodcastminorHardBlock co-hosts or participates in the Australian Bitcoin Podcast, featuring episodes on Bitcoin taxes with qualified accountants, SMSF walkthroughs, and general Bitcoin education. Daniel Wilczynski is a guest/host.
- Australian Bitcoin Industry BodycoreHardBlock collaborates with the Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (bitcoinindustrybody.org.au) to drive Bitcoin adoption in Australia. Daniel Wilczynski is a founding board member of this industry body.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HardBlock competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CoinSpot: Australia's largest retail crypto exchange by user base, AUSTRAC-registered, offering AUD on/off-ramps. Competes with HardBlock for Australian first-time Bitcoin buyers, albeit with a much broader multi-asset catalog.
- BTC Markets: One of Australia's longest-operating cryptocurrency exchanges (AUD fiat pairs), directly competing for the same retail and SMSF Bitcoin-purchase customers as HardBlock with similar AUSTRAC registration.
- River Financial: US-based Bitcoin-only financial services platform with focus on self-custody, recurring buys, and full-reserve custody — the closest international analogue to HardBlock's Bitcoin-only, full-reserve, self-custody-oriented model.
- Swyftx: Major Australian retail crypto exchange with AUD deposits, mobile app, and broad asset coverage. Targets the same first-time-buyer segment as HardBlock but with significantly larger marketing and product scale.
- Swan Bitcoin: Bitcoin-only exchange specializing in automated DCA and self-custody withdrawals for retail and advisory clients in the US, mirroring HardBlock's Auto-Buy/Recurring-Buy/withdrawal batching feature set.
- CoinJar: Australian-founded crypto exchange with AUD on/off-ramps and a long operational history, comparable to HardBlock in regulatory positioning and target customer base while offering a broader product set.
- Independent Reserve: AUSTRAC-registered Australian exchange emphasizing institutional and SMSF Bitcoin customers, with similar compliance positioning and a comparable product surface area to HardBlock's exchange offering.
- Digital Surge: AUSTRAC-registered Australian retail exchange providing AUD deposits, withdrawals, and recurring-buy features similar to HardBlock's DCA automation, competing for the same Australian retail audience.
Broad incumbents
- Coinbase: Largest publicly listed US crypto exchange with Australian customers; competes broadly for Australian retail BTC-AUD flow but offers a much wider product suite (altcoins, staking, custody, derivatives) than HardBlock.
- Binance Australia: Global exchange's Australian entity offering AUD on/off-ramps and broad asset coverage. Competes on liquidity and breadth rather than Bitcoin-only focus and is a broad incumbent rather than a niche direct match for HardBlock.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HardBlock social profiles
Digital presenceHardBlock compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
HardBlock financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HardBlock leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HardBlock funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HardBlock M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HardBlock
What does HardBlock do?
HardBlock is an Australian Bitcoin-only exchange platform that enables individuals and businesses to buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin using AUD. The platform provides automated dollar-cost averaging (DCA) features, Lightning Network withdrawals, dedicated Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) accounts, and integrated GuardBlock multi-signature cold storage for custody of customer Bitcoin.
Is HardBlock a public or private company?
HardBlock is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HardBlock founded?
HardBlock was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HardBlock based?
HardBlock is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does HardBlock make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Spread Revenue is the primary driver. The others are bitcoin Withdrawal Fees.
Who are HardBlock's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CoinSpot, BTC Markets, River Financial, Swyftx, Swan Bitcoin, CoinJar, Independent Reserve and Digital Surge. Broad incumbents are Coinbase and Binance Australia.
Does HardBlock have an API?
No public API is recorded for HardBlock.
What industry is HardBlock in?
HardBlock's product category is Cryptocurrency Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAMAD, On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury), with a secondary code of FSADADAE, Mint/Redeem, Issuance APIs & Treasury Operations Platforms.