In a major policy move, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at giving American workers more freedom in how they invest for retirement — including access to cryptocurrencies via their 401(k) plans.
The order instructs the Department of Labor and the SEC to revise current regulations and issue new guidance that would make it easier for retirement plans to offer alternative assets like private equity, real estate, and crypto. Trump called it a step toward “democratizing access to alternative assets.”
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While crypto has never been outright banned from 401(k) offerings, most employers have avoided it due to regulatory uncertainty, volatility, and fiduciary risk. This order seeks to shift that dynamic by reducing legal and compliance barriers for plan sponsors.
“This move could eventually unlock billions in long-term capital for digital assets,” said one industry observer.
Still, not everyone’s on board just yet. Critics argue that alternative assets — especially crypto — bring higher risk, lower liquidity, and complex fee structures that might be inappropriate for average retirement savers.
According to Edward Gottfried, VP of Product at Betterment at Work, employers still face strict fiduciary standards: “Offering private securities or crypto within 401(k)s will be extremely challenging without strong oversight.”
What This Means for Crypto Investors:
If implemented, this could boost institutional adoption through retirement accounts.
It may open the door to crypto ETFs or funds being included in mainstream 401(k) offerings.
Expect a long rollout — actual plan-level access may take 12–18 months, depending on how quickly agencies act.
🟡 Bottom Line: While the executive order doesn’t guarantee crypto in your 401(k) tomorrow, it’s a clear signal that digital assets are being normalized within the U.S. retirement system — and that’s a win for long-term adoption.
