Trump eyeing executive order to allow crypto, gold, and private equity in 401(k) retirement plans: report

United States President Donald Trumpplans to open the country's retirement market to include cryptocurrency, gold, private equity, and other "alternative investments" in a forthcoming executive order,according to a report by theFinancial Times, citing three people briefed on the matter.

Regulators would need to scrutinize existing hurdles preventing alternative investments from being included in professionally managed retirement funds for people with a 401(k) if $Trump implements the order, according to the Financial Times's reporting.

$Trump's potential executive order would follow other federal agencies softening their stance on allowing crypto into retirement funds in recent months. On May 28, the Department of Labor reversed prior guidance cautioning managers to exercise "extreme care" before incorporating cryptocurrency into investment strategies, in an attempt to roll back what the agency claimed was "overreach" by the Biden administration, The Block previously reported.

Lawmakers have also attempted to broaden acceptable retirement investments to include crypto. In 2022, Rep. Peter Meijer, R-MI, introduced the Retirement Savings Modernization Act, which would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to include digital assets, private equity, venture capital, and other asset classes. However, the bill failed to reach a floor vote.

As of March, Americans held around $8.7 trillion in 401(k) retirement funds, according to data from the Investment Company Institute. A 401(k) is a retirement plan in which an employee diverts a portion of their wages into a tax-advantaged investment account, often with employer contributions as well.

Several states have already incorporated digital assets into their retirement investments or are seeking to do so. In March, North Carolina lawmakers introduced two bills that would allot up to 5% of certain retirement fund balances into crypto. In 2024, the State of Michigan Retirement System disclosed holdingapproximately$6.6 millionin the ARKB Bitcoin ETF and$10 million in Ethereum ETF investments. Meanwhile, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board revealed thatit owned $163 million worth of spot bitcoin ETF holdings.