Retirement savers in the US will soon be able to passively invest in Bitcoin for their nest eggs.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing the Labor Department to make it easier for private equity, real estate, cryptocurrencies, and other alternative assets to be included in 401(k) retirement plans.
It could channel fresh flows of billions of dollars into digital assets via regulated investment products like spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
The roughly $8 trillion held in 401(k) accounts, according to 2024 estimates by Bitwise, is one of the largest untapped markets for crypto exposure. Bloomberg estimates this number today to be even higher — around $12.5 trillion.
While most portfolios remain concentrated in stocks and bonds, the policy shift opens the door for plan sponsors to offer funds linked to Bitcoin and other private assets.