Colombia’s AFP Protección Launches Bitcoin Fund for Qualified Pension Investors

TLDR:

• AFP Protección manages $55 billion across 8.5 million customers in Colombia’s pension market 
• Bitcoin fund requires personalized advisory and targets long-term diversification, not speculation 
• Colombia’s mandatory pension market reached 527.3 trillion pesos with 48.8% invested abroad 
• Protección follows Skandia as second major administrator offering Bitcoin pension exposure 

Colombia’s second-largest pension fund manager AFP Protección plans to launch a Bitcoin exposure fund focused on long-term diversification. 

The fund will be available to risk-qualified investors via personalized advisory, allowing limited BTC allocation. Protección manages about $55 billion in assets. 

The company becomes the second major administrator in Colombia to offer such products, following Skandia’s September 2025 initiative.

Strategic Approach to Digital Asset Integration

AFP Protección has designed its Bitcoin fund with a controlled and measured framework. Juan David Correa, president of the company, confirmed the initiative during a recent interview with Valora Analitik. 

Access requires personalized advisory sessions to evaluate each investor’s risk tolerance and financial objectives. Only those meeting specific criteria can allocate portfolio percentages to Bitcoin.

The fund targets long-term diversification rather than short-term speculation or quick profits. Correa emphasized that “the most important element is diversification” when discussing the initiative. 

Qualified participants will have the option to expose portions of their portfolios to digital assets. The approach reflects careful consideration of market volatility and regulatory requirements within Colombia’s financial system.

Protección manages approximately 8.5 million customers across mandatory pensions, voluntary pensions, and severance payments. 

The company’s total assets under management exceed 220 trillion pesos. These figures position Protección as a major player in Colombia’s pension industry. 

The new Bitcoin fund initially serves voluntary participants and customized allocations.

The mandatory pension market in Colombia reached 527.3 trillion pesos in November 2025. Nearly 48.8% of these funds are invested internationally. 

Protección’s Bitcoin offering does not target mandatory savings at this stage. The company maintains focus on qualified investors with appropriate risk profiles.

Limited Scope Within Traditional Investment Framework

The new fund represents measured progress in Colombia’s financial sector evolution. Skandia Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones y Cesantías launched similar Bitcoin exposure options in September 2025. 

Protección’s entry confirms growing institutional interest in digital assets among pension managers. The trend suggests gradual acceptance within private pension management.

Colombian pension funds continue investing predominantly in traditional assets. Fixed income securities and equities remain the core holdings. 

Bitcoin exposure accounts for a small fraction of overall portfolio allocations. This conservative approach balances innovation with fiduciary responsibility.

The personalized advisory requirement ensures investor protection. Each participant undergoes risk assessment before accessing Bitcoin exposure. 

The process aligns with regulatory expectations and industry best practices. Correa stated that “those people who can participate will find a space for a percentage of their portfolio, if they wish, to be exposed to this type of asset.”

The initiative expands options for qualified Colombian investors seeking exposure to digital assets. It does not indicate wholesale transformation of pension savings strategies in the country. 

Traditional asset classes maintain their dominant position in portfolio construction and allocation. Bitcoin serves as an additional diversification tool for appropriate investor segments who meet risk criteria.