Former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would expand access to alternative investments—such as cryptocurrency, gold, and private equity—within the $9 trillion U.S. retirement savings market.
According to a July 17 report by the Financial Times, the order would direct federal agencies to review and eliminate regulatory obstacles that currently prevent 401(k) retirement plans from including digital assets and other non-traditional investments. This initiative reflects Trump’s broader push to promote cryptocurrency adoption and weave digital assets into the fabric of the U.S. financial system.
If enacted, the executive order would enable professionally managed retirement portfolios to diversify beyond traditional public equities and bonds. Everyday savers could gain exposure to assets like Bitcoin, infrastructure funds, private credit, and acquisition-oriented investment vehicles.
The order also aims to offer legal protections—known as safe harbors—for retirement plan administrators. These protections would reduce liability risks when incorporating less liquid, higher-risk investments, thereby encouraging broader experimentation with asset diversification.
This move follows a wave of pro-crypto actions by the Trump administration since his return to the White House in January 2025. Earlier this year, Trump reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to digital asset leadership by establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. His administration has also supported regulatory clarity for crypto, backing legislation recently passed in the House of Representatives, and has rolled back enforcement measures against digital asset companies.
Trump has promised to dismantle what he calls “crippling regulations” introduced by previous administrations. His family’s involvement in the digital asset space has also deepened, including the launch of a Trump-branded stablecoin and over $2 billion in crypto-related investments via Trump Media & Technology Group.
Beyond crypto, the proposed reforms are expected to benefit major private equity firms like BlackRock, Apollo, and Blackstone, which have long lobbied for access to the 401(k) ecosystem. Even modest allocations from U.S. retirement savers could potentially translate into hundreds of billions of dollars in fresh inflows for these firms.
While critics warn that introducing complex and illiquid investments into retirement plans could raise risks for inexperienced investors, advocates argue the changes would enhance diversification, hedge against inflation, and offer access to high-growth sectors such as blockchain and digital finance.
If implemented, Trump’s executive order could significantly reshape the American retirement system—cementing cryptocurrencies and alternative assets as central components of long-term financial planning in the U.S.
