Trump opens U.S. retirement market to encrypt with landmark executive order
President Donald Trump has signed a historic executive order that will allow for cryptocurrencies and alternative assets for the first time the U.S. 401(k) retirement plan – a move expected to fundamentally reshape long-term wealth-building strategies and ripples through global capital markets.
The announcement freed access to the $9 trillion U.S. retirement market, historically limited to stocks and bonds, by modifying investment rules and encouraging retirement plan providers to include digital assets and private equity between investment options.
“It’s not only a cryptocurrency, but it’s a decisive moment for the entire financial future,” said Nigel Green, CEO of Devere Group, an international wealth and asset management company.
“The world’s largest economy says that digital assets are now at the heart of a long-term wealth strategy. This has global implications.”
The executive order directs U.S. regulators to reassess and modernize long-term restrictions on 401(k) investment options. So far, cryptocurrencies are not available despite more than 90 million Americans using these employer-sponsored programs, despite growing investor interest and the soaring value of digital currencies in 2025.
“The order breaks down psychological and regulatory barriers to keeping cryptocurrencies in the sandbox,” Green said.
Analysts believe that even the 1-2% distribution to cryptocurrencies in retirement portfolios could trigger inflows of hundreds of billions of dollars, further accelerating the institutionalization of digital assets.
The Executive Order also established a U.S. Manufacturing and Investment Program, which aims to promote blockchain innovation and capital formation in the U.S., with a focus on digital asset infrastructure.
Despite the U.S. leading, other jurisdictions may now feel pressure to follow suit. In Europe, regulators are reportedly under increasing pressure to re-examine pension directives and modern retirement frameworks. In Asia, cryptocurrencies have risen and investors and governments are paying attention to U.S. actions.
“The floodgates are opening,” Green said. “Retirement savings are one of the most conservative asset pools. If cryptocurrencies can win their place there, it can win its place anywhere.”
The policy shift occurred in a record year for digital currencies, with Bitcoin reaching record highs driven by fresh sovereign interests, institutional demand and favorable regulatory momentum.
Meanwhile, as traditional portfolios struggle with volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, large companies including pension managers and sovereign wealth funds, including pension managers and sovereign wealth funds, are increasingly seeking high-growth assets.
“Investors want to reach out to the future. They don’t want to miss it,” Green added. “This move allows them to establish such exposure among the most important financial instruments and pass guidance and safeguards.”
Although Trump’s order comes after years of lobbying by digital asset companies, insiders believe that the inclusion of cryptocurrencies is a turning point that helps drive reform.
The announcement marks a deeper political embrace of cryptocurrencies, in stark contrast to earlier U.S. policies under continuous government, which often focuses on restrictive enforcement and regulation.
Trump has previously expressed admiration and frustration with the cryptocurrency industry, but the move puts the U.S. president at the forefront of global crypto integration.
Although the executive order opens up new areas of investment, it also brings new responsibilities to program providers, consultants and investors. The cryptocurrency market remains volatile and investment risks must be carefully managed, especially in a stable and precious retirement portfolio.
However, through proper diversity, education and professional supervision, industry leaders believe that long-term benefits outweigh risks.
“Crypto is no longer just an option for speculative traders or hedge funds,” Green said. “It has become part of the financial DNA of today’s world.”
