Trump’s Crypto Retirement Order Goes Federal — GOP Pushes to Make It Permanent

Washington just turbocharged retirement accounts with digital assets—and Republicans are moving to cement the policy before November's election.

The Federal Expansion

What started as an executive order now spans multiple government agencies. The Department of Labor, Treasury, and SEC are all coordinating implementation—creating the first comprehensive federal framework for crypto in retirement plans.

Permanent Protection Push

Congressional Republicans are drafting legislation to lock the provisions into law, preventing future administrations from reversing course. The move comes as polling shows crypto ownership becoming a significant factor among younger voters.

Wall Street's compliance departments are scrambling to update their systems—apparently believing that government approval actually means something in the wild west of digital assets.

This could trigger the largest institutional crypto adoption wave yet—or create the most spectacular retirement plan implosion since 2008.

Republican House Pushes to Codify Executive Order

On Tuesday, Representative Troy Downing (R-Mont.) introduced the Retirement Investment Choice Act. The one-page bill grants Executive Order 14330—Trump’s directive allowing crypto in retirement accounts—“the force and effect of law.”

The initiative follows Trump’s August executive order instructing the Labor Department to permit “alternative assets,” including digital assets, when deemed appropriate by plan fiduciaries. The proposal could reshape the $25 trillion US retirement market by opening a new channel for Bitcoin-linked investment vehicles if enacted.

Executive orders can guide policy but lack statutory permanence. Future administrations or courts can reverse them. Downing’s bill aims to fix that gap by legally binding the directive.

“Alternative investments hold the transformative potential to supercharge Americans’ financial security,” Downing said. “I applaud President TRUMP for his leadership to democratize finance.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor has 180 days to propose rule changes enabling plan sponsors to include such assets. However, the ongoing government shutdown could delay progress.

About a month after Trump’s order in September, nine lawmakers urged SEC Chair Paul Atkins to accelerate implementation. They argued that 90 million Americans excluded from alternative assets deserve a stable, dignified retirement.

Industry groups, including the American Retirement Association, back the bill. They say fiduciaries—not regulators—should decide suitable investment options.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Congressman Troy Downing to introduce bill that WOULD cement President Trump's executive order allowing $BTC in 401(k)s into law. pic.twitter.com/nQSA2ojrBg

New Flows Could Reshape Crypto Markets

If the bill becomes law, 401(k) providers may offer crypto funds in addition to traditional assets. This could become Washington’s most consequential move for digital-asset markets seeking long-term capital. Analysts estimate that even a 1% allocation from US accounts could add tens of billions of dollars to crypto markets.

According to Bitwise, a 1% allocation of US 401(k) assets would channel $122 billion into crypto, while a 3% share could drive nearly $360 billion. Global crypto ETFs confirm the demand: by Oct. 4, 2025, funds saw record inflows of $5.95 billion, with the US making up $5 billion.

Crypto is coming to 401(k)s. That’s a $10+ trillion door swinging open. https://t.co/kbfMx60fV1

Bitcoin and ethereum ETFs have already been approved, and several altcoin-based ETFs now await SEC review. While the bill’s passage remains uncertain, its arrival shows clear political momentum to normalize crypto within retirement portfolios.