Catenaa, Friday, September 26, 2025-US lawmakers are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order allowing 401(k) retirement plans to invest in alternative assets, including cryptocurrency, potentially impacting $12.5 trillion in US retirement savings.
In a letter dated September 22, House Financial Services Committee leaders French Hill and Maxine Waters asked SEC Chair Paul Atkins to revise rules recognizing FINRA-certified professionals as accredited investors and broaden access to private equity, real estate, and digital assets within employer-sponsored plans.
The directive aligns with Trump’s August 7 order instructing the Department of Labor, Treasury, and SEC to expand investment options under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Currently, most of the nation’s 90 million 401(k) participants are restricted to traditional stocks and bonds. Lawmakers and industry groups argue that measured allocations to alternatives could boost risk-adjusted returns and modernize retirement strategies.
The SEC’s role in adjusting accredited investor definitions is central to the plan, with bipartisan bills pending to incorporate professional licenses, education, or examinations as pathways to accreditation.
SEC Chair Atkins has signaled a shift from previous administration policies, emphasizing flexibility for crypto firms and public companies.
Semiannual reporting could replace quarterly earnings, while preliminary notices and six-month compliance windows may reduce enforcement pressure. The agency is also preparing a Crypto Task Force hearing on October 17 to examine digital asset oversight and financial privacy tools.
The initiative marks a pivotal step toward mainstream crypto adoption, potentially channeling tens of millions of retirement savers into digital assets while reshaping US retirement investment landscapes.
