President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing Americans to hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum in their retirement portfolios for the first time.
This move unlocks the $9 trillion 401(k) market to digital assets, private equity, and real estate investments.
The order instructs regulators to revise rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which governs 401(k) and similar plans, making it easier for plan sponsors to offer alternative assets as options. Traditionally, 401(k) plans focused on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, excluding crypto due to regulatory and liquidity concerns.
Experts say this shift is a major milestone for crypto, opening the door to hundreds of billions of dollars in new investment. Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, described it as a “defining moment” that signals institutional acceptance and could spark global changes.
Big asset managers like BlackRock and Apollo are preparing to offer retirement funds that include private equity and crypto, seeing this as a new growth area. The change means more options and the potential for higher returns, though risks like volatility and fees remain.
This order follows earlier Trump administration steps easing crypto in retirement accounts and comes amid rising Bitcoin prices and growing corporate interest.
