Trump’s Executive Order Opens 401(k) Plans to Crypto Investments

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order permitting cryptocurrency and other alternative assets to be included in 401(k) retirement plans. This decision unlocks the $12.5 trillion retirement market for digital investments, though it raises questions about investor safeguards and fiduciary duties.

The order directs regulatory agencies, including the SEC and Labor Department, to clarify rules and ease restrictions on alternative assets like crypto, private equity, and real estate in defined contribution plans. The WHITE House argues that outdated regulations have limited retirees' access to diversified, high-yield investments.

While the MOVE modernizes retirement portfolios, it does not mandate additional legal protections. Instead, it focuses on providing clearer fiduciary guidance to plan providers navigating this expanded investment landscape.