U.S. lawmakers are pressing SEC for clarity on regulating the integration of cryptocurrencies into 401(k) retirement plans

On September 22, 2025, the House Financial Services Committee Chairman, French Hill, led a bipartisan group of ￰0￱ to draft a letter they sent to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, urging his agency to provide regulatory clarity and guidance to implement President Trump’s executive order regarding 401(k)s and ￰1￱ order , signed on August 7, 2025, aims to expand the access of the American people to alternative investments, including cryptocurrencies, private equity, and real estate in 401(k)s and other defined-contribution retirement plans, potentially unlocking trillions in assets for such opportunities. NEW: Chairman @RepFrenchHill , @RepAnnWagner , @RepFrankLucas , @Rep_Davidson , @RepStutzman , @RepGarbarino , @RepMikeLawler , @RepTroyDowning and @RepHaridopolos sent a letter to @SECGov Chair Atkins supporting @POTUS ' recent EO allowing 401(k) investors to access alternative assets… ￰2￱ — Financial Services GOP (@FinancialCmte) September 22, 2025 Lawmakers push SEC for action In their letter , Members of the Financial Services Committee praised Trump’s executive order for its potential to help Americans enhance their retirement ￰3￱ also encouraged the SEC to work with the Department of Labor on revising its regulations and guidance to make these investments accessible to millions of Americans to prepare for retirement.

“We are hopeful that such actions will help the 90 million Americans who are currently restricted from investing in alternative assets to secure a dignified, comfortable retirement,” the letter ￰4￱ in play, it is expected that the executive order will force the ￰5￱ Department to reevaluate the guidance value around alternative investment assets and also clarify the federal government’s position on allowing private allocation of funds via crypto in the 401(k) retirement ￰6￱ in private equity has soared Since President Donald Trump signed the executive order paving the way for alternative assets to be included in 401(k) retirement accounts, interest in private equity and private debt has ￰7￱ after the signing, Schroders’ 2025 ￰8￱ Survey revealed that a significant portion of workplace retirement plan participants would invest in private equity or private debt if the option were available to them.

Forty-five percent of plan participants who took the survey said they would invest in these options if they could, up from 36% in 2024, and among those interested, 77% said they would increase contributions to their plan. However, less than one-third of plan participants said they expect private assets to be available in their plan within five ￰9￱ survey also revealed that most people have limited knowledge about private assets, with a fairly prevalent perception that private assets are risky. “For decades, traditional pension plan portfolios have mixed public and private investments in the same portfolio to meet their obligations to retirees,” said Schroders’ head of ￰10￱ contribution, Deb Boyden.

“On the heels of the recent executive order directing the Labor Department to consider improving access to alternative assets for defined-contribution retirement plan participants, a wider range of employees may soon be able to combine the benefits of both asset classes to better prepare for retirement.” If you're reading this, you’re already ￰11￱ there with our newsletter .