U.S. lawmakers are intensifying efforts to revise retirement-plan rules so everyday savers could invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through their 401(k) accounts, a move that could reshape how Americans save for retirement.
Lawmakers Press for Rule Changes
On Dec. 12, 2025, members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins, urging the agency to update its regulatory framework. The goal is to allow digital assets, like Bitcoin, to become eligible investment options in 401(k) retirement plans once regulatory barriers are removed.
Executive Order Drives Momentum
This congressional push follows President Donald Trump’s Aug. 7, 2025 executive order, titled “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” The order directs federal agencies — including the SEC and Department of Labor (DOL) — to consider revisions that could make alternative investments more accessible in defined contribution plans. Digital assets are explicitly listed among these alternatives.
Under the order, regulators are encouraged to rethink long-standing barriers, including how accredited investor and qualified purchaser standards apply to retirement savers. If implemented, this could broaden eligibility and reduce restrictions that now limit participation in certain markets.
What This Means for Savers
Despite the heightened attention, this effort does not immediately change 401(k) offerings. Even if regulators revise the rules, employers and plan providers would still decide whether to include crypto options, and individuals would have to actively select them for their portfolios.
In addition to the SEC letter, lawmakers are advancing legislation, such as the Retirement Investment Choice Act, aimed at codifying the executive order and making these changes permanent. That bill would enshrine into law the broader access to alternative investments, including digital assets, within 401(k) plans.
As of today, regulators have not finalized new rules permitting crypto in retirement plans. The SEC and DOL are expected to continue consultations and potentially propose guidance or rule changes in the coming months.
