President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week that lets professionally managed 401(k) and IRA plans hold cryptocurrencies and gold, following a news that the market is being opened to private equity and other alternatives.
The measure targets the roughly US$9 trillion American contribution pool.
“President Trump is committed to restoring prosperity for everyday Americans and safeguarding their economic future,” the White House told the Financial Times, while cautioning that nothing is final until Trump says so.
The draft order instructs the Labor Department and the SEC to “identify and remove barriers” that keep non-traditional assets out of retirement portfolios—a direct reversal of Biden-era warnings that discouraged crypto exposure.
Bitcoin pierced US$120,000 for the first time on reports of the looming order, while XRP notched a record high. Meanwhile, gold hovered near $3,340 per ounce, poised for its first weekly decline in three weeks.
Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, and BlackRock have lobbied for retail flows and are already brokering deals with plan administrators such as Vanguard and Empower.
Congress is paving the way. On Thursday, the House passed three industry-backed bills—the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Anti-CBDC Act—designed to classify digital assets, regulate stablecoins, and curb a federal digital dollar.
Information for this story was found via The Street, CoinDesk, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
