On March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rule that would allow 401(k) retirement plans to include alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and other tokens, per The Block. This move directly implements President Donald Trump’s August 2025 executive order directing the DOL to facilitate access to alternative investments for retirement savings, per. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the proposal as an “initial step” to broaden options for millions of Americans while protecting retirement assets, per.
The draft rule defines digital assets broadly as “a new form of investing that includes a wide variety of assets that can be stored and transmitted digitally, including cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and other tokens,” per. It provides a safe harbor under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for plan fiduciaries who follow a prudent process when evaluating alternative assets. Required considerations include performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, and complexity, per. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling emphasized that “the department’s days of picking winners and losers are over,” shifting focus to a neutral evaluation process, per.
Americans held approximately $10.1 trillion in 401(k) plans at the end of 2025, up from $9 trillion the previous year, according to the Investment Company Institute, per. Opening this massive pool to crypto could significantly boost institutional adoption of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. The proposal also directs the SEC to revise regulations to ease access for retirement plans, per.
Senator Elizabeth Warren strongly criticized the move, warning that it could expose retirement savings to risky assets amid falling private equity returns and crypto volatility, per. Supporters argue the rule empowers plan managers to offer diversified options without undue restrictions. The DOL will open a 60-day public comment period after publishing the proposal in the Federal Register, per.
If finalized, the rule could accelerate crypto integration into mainstream retirement savings, potentially driving long-term demand for BTC and ETH. Investors should monitor the comment period and final rule for implementation timelines. Bitcoin currently trades near $113,000, while Ethereum hovers around $4,070, per recent market data. Diversification and careful due diligence remain essential given the inherent volatility of digital assets.
