In August 2025, US President Trump signed an executive order allowing retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, to include "alternative assets" such as cryptocurrencies, private equity, and real estate. Subsequently, on September 22, nine Republican members of Congress jointly sent a letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, urging the SEC to swiftly amend existing regulations and for the Department of Labor to expedite implementation of the order.
Trump signs executive order opening 401(k)s to crypto investments
Trump signed an executive order in early August, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.”
The order explicitly requires the SEC to work with the Department of Labor to review the existing Accredited Investor and Qualified Purchaser rules to ensure that ordinary people can more easily invest in alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Republican lawmakers jointly pressured the SEC to implement it as soon as possible
Subsequently, on September 22, nine Republican congressmen jointly sent a letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, requesting swift assistance from the Department of Labor and necessary adjustments to existing regulations and guidelines. The co-signers included House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill and Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair Ann Wagner.
The letter emphasizes that this action will help 90 million Americans who currently cannot invest in alternative assets, allowing them to build a more secure asset portfolio for retirement.
The letter also highlights the context for this policy shift. In May of this year, the U.S. Department of Labor withdrew its previous anti-crypto guidance, which had warned pension trustees to exercise caution when including cryptocurrency investments in their plans. This about-face signals a loosening of the federal government's stance on including crypto assets in pension plans.
DC pension funds total $13 trillion, and transferring 1% to crypto is a significant amount
As of the second quarter of 2025 , the total assets of defined contribution (DC) retirement plans in the United States, such as 401(k), 403(b), and IRA, were approximately US$13 trillion.
This type of retirement fund, jointly contributed by employers and employees, with individuals choosing their own investments, represents one of the largest pools of private retirement savings in the United States. Assuming 1% of this $13 trillion in DC funds were allocated to cryptocurrencies, approximately $130 billion would flow into the crypto market, a significant amount. However, whether these policies will actually be implemented remains to be seen.
The article " US Republicans jointly pressure the SEC to accelerate the implementation of 401(k) inclusion of crypto assets" first appeared on ABMedia ABMedia .
