The White House approves review of proposal to include cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans.

BlockBeats News, March 26 — According to Cointelegraph, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the White House completed its review of a Department of Labor (DOL) proposal on March 24. The proposal involves allowing 401(k) trustees to include alternative assets, including digital assets, in retirement plans. OIRA marked the review as “Changed and Approved” and listed the proposal as “Significantly Economically Significant.” The Department of Labor is expected to issue a proposed rule, initiating a 60-day public comment period, after which the final rule will typically be issued with revisions.

This completion of review is a follow-up to Executive Order 2025-08-07 issued by Trump. The order directs federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets within 401(k) plans, including through specific investment vehicles that provide exposure to digital assets. It also requires the DOL to reevaluate restrictions on private equity, real estate, and digital assets entering fixed contribution plans, and calls for the Treasury Department and SEC to collaborate on supporting rule revisions.

In May 2025, the DOL rescinded a 2022 compliance guideline issued during the Biden administration, which advised trustees to be “extremely cautious” when including cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans. This marked a fundamental shift in the federal government’s attitude toward incorporating digital assets into retirement plans.

According to data from the Investment Company Institute, as of September 30, 2025, the financial assets in the U.S. retirement market reached a record $48.1 trillion. Additionally, on February 25, the Indiana legislature passed a bill requiring some state retirement and savings plans to offer at least one cryptocurrency investment option by July 1, 2027.