The White House Approves Review of Proposal to Include Cryptocurrency in 401(k) Retirement Plans

According to Cointelegraph, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has completed its review of a proposal from the Department of Labor (DOL) that involves evaluating the inclusion of alternative assets, including digital assets, in retirement plans for 401(k) trustees.
OIRA marked the review conclusion as "Change Approved" and categorized the proposal as "Significantly Economically Impactful." The Department of Labor is expected to issue a proposed rule next, initiating a 60-day public comment period, after which the final rule will typically be issued following revisions. The completion of this review is a follow-up to the August 7, 2025, executive order issued by Trump.
This executive order requires federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets within 401(k) plans, including gaining exposure to digital assets through specific investment vehicles. It also mandates the Department of Labor to reassess restrictions on private equity, real estate, and digital assets in defined contribution plans, and calls for the Treasury Department to collaborate with the SEC to support rule revisions.
In May 2025, the Department of Labor revoked a Biden-era guidance from 2022 that advised trustees to be "extremely cautious" when including cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans, marking a fundamental shift in the federal government’s attitude toward incorporating digital assets into retirement plans.
According to data from the Investment Company Institute, as of September 30, 2025, the financial assets in the U.S. retirement market reached a record $48.1 trillion. Additionally, on February 25, the Indiana legislature passed a bill requiring some state retirement and savings plans to offer at least one cryptocurrency investment option by July 1, 2027.