Trump Eyes Crypto for $9T Retirement Market

Key Takeaways

• Trump's upcoming executive order would open 401(k) plans to crypto, gold, and private market investments.
• The move follows the reversal of Biden-era restrictions and passage of three crypto bills supported by Trump.

Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order this week that could open the $9 trillion US retirement market, including 401(k) plans, to crypto assets, gold, private equity, and other alternative investments, according to the Financial Times.

The order would direct regulators to identify and eliminate barriers preventing these asset classes from being included in professionally managed retirement portfolios.

This initiative builds upon a broader effort to integrate digital assets into mainstream finance. In May, the Department of Labor rescinded a Biden-era rule that discouraged plan administrators from offering crypto exposure.

Momentum continued as the House passed three crypto bills: the GENIUS Act, to establish a stablecoin framework; the Clarity Act, defining who can legally issue stablecoins; and the Anti-CBDC Act, banning the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency.

If signed, the executive order would significantly broaden the range of assets Americans can hold in their retirement plans but also faces scrutiny.

Critics caution that shifting savings into higher-fee, less liquid assets like private equity and digital tokens could expose retail investors to greater risk. Unlike public stocks and bonds, these assets are harder to value, more difficult to trade, and offer less transparency, potentially leaving savers vulnerable.

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