AFP Protección, Colombia’s second-largest private pension and severance fund manager, is preparing to introduce an investment fund that includes exposure to Bitcoin. Juan David Correa, president of Protección SA, confirmed the plan in an interview with local outlet Valora Analitik, explaining that access to the product will be restricted and offered only through a tailored advisory process. The assessment will focus on each client’s risk profile, with only eligible investors permitted to allocate part of their portfolios to Bitcoin.

“The most important element is diversification,” Correa said, adding that “those who can participate will find a space for a percentage of their portfolio, if they so wish, to be exposed to this type of asset.”

The initiative follows a similar move by Skandia Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones y Cesantías, which began providing Bitcoin exposure within one of its portfolios in September last year. With this step, Protección becomes the second major pension fund administrator in Colombia to offer access to digital assets.

Core pension strategy remains unchanged

Protección emphasized that the planned Bitcoin-linked fund does not alter the overall management of pension savings. Traditional asset classes such as fixed income securities, equities and other conventional investments will continue to form the backbone of pension portfolios. The new fund is instead positioned as an optional addition for qualified clients seeking broader diversification.

Founded in 1991, AFP Protección oversees more than 220 trillion Colombian pesos, roughly $55 billion, on behalf of over 8.5 million clients across mandatory and voluntary pension schemes and severance accounts. Across the wider Colombian pension system, mandatory pension fund assets totaled 527.3 trillion pesos as of November 2025, with close to half invested outside the country.

Regulatory backdrop tightens for crypto in Colombia

The move comes as Colombia strengthens oversight of the cryptocurrency sector. Earlier this month, the national tax authority, DIAN, implemented mandatory reporting requirements for crypto service providers, including exchanges, custodians and intermediaries. The framework obliges firms to collect and submit user identification and transaction data.

The new rules align Colombia with the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, enabling automatic cross-border exchange of crypto-related tax information. Under the regime, service providers must meet due diligence and valuation standards and may face penalties if they fail to comply.

Sources:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-21/colombia-moves-to-cap-pension-funds-overseas-holdings-at-30

https://cbonds.com/company/512045/#:~:text=Profile,de%20Pensiones%20y%20Cesant%C3%ADa%20S.A.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/colombia-second-largest-pension-fund-bitcoin-exposure

https://x.com/ValoraAnalitik/status/2014353904410952137