New executive order allows cryptocurrencies in 401(k)

News | By Easton Martin | August 7, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets to be included in 401(k) and defined-contribution retirement plans.

The order directs the Department of Labor, in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Treasury Department, to revise current regulations and guidance to permit professionally managed plans to offer access to assets such as private equity, real estate, and digital currencies.

This change applies to the estimated 9 to 12 trillion dollar defined-contribution retirement market, which includes plans serving approximately 90 million Americans.

The policy expands investment options beyond traditional stocks and bonds, allowing greater diversification within retirement portfolios.

The move reverses a 2022 Department of Labor guidance that had cautioned against the inclusion of cryptocurrency in retirement accounts. That guidance was formally withdrawn in May 2025.

Following the announcement, major cryptocurrencies and related financial instruments experienced a rise in market value.