Will Your 401(k) Go Crypto? Washington Pushes SEC To Say Yes

23-Sep-2025

Legislators in Washington are trying hard to pressure the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to open up the $12.5 trillion 401(k) retirement market to crypto and other alternative assets.

In accordance with US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters pressed SEC Chair Paul Atkins to expedite the rules revision in line with the directive.

In a letter penned to Atkins on 22 September 2025, Hill and Waters called on the SEC to recognise FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)certified professionals as accredited investors and expand retirement access across alternative assets.

EXPLORE: Next 1000X Crypto – Here’s 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x This Year

Trump’s Executive Order Paves Way for 401(k) Crypto Access

Trump’s executive order, signed on 7 August 2025, has put the spotlight on the SEC in potentially reshaping how 90 million Americans invest through their 401(k)s.

The order directs the Department of Labour to revisit its ERISA ( Employee Retirement Income Security Act) guidelines, aiming to make it easier for retirement savers to invest in alternative assets like private equity, real estate and crypto.

To make this happen, the Labour Secretary is teaming up with the Treasury, SEC and other regulators to pave the way forward. If successful, this move could open up a slice of the $43.4 trillion US retirement market to investments that have been off limits.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have backed this motion. They argue that limited access to alternatives hinders returns and prevents retirement strategies from innovating. By allowing controlled exposure to these assets, the lawmakers believe portfolios could become resilient and aligned to modern markets.

The SEC’s role is key here. Especially in redefining who qualifies as an “accredited investor.” Furthermore, several bipartisan bills are already in play that aim to expand the definition to potentially include individuals with certain licenses, degrees, or those who pass SEC-approved exams.

This isn’t a brand-new idea either. Similar reforms were floated during Trump’s earlier term, but were later shelved under President Biden.

Industry groups have forever pushed for this reform, arguing that retirement plans focused only on stocks and bonds don’t reflect how capital markets have evolved.

Meanwhile, the order has clarified fiduciary responsibilities for plan administrators, laying out how they can offer alternative assets while protecting investors.

For crypto, this is a game-changer. If crypto makes its way into the 401(k)s, it could unlock a massive new capital channel and expose millions of Americans to crypto.

EXPLORE: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025

SEC Rethinks Digital Asset Regulation And How Companies Report Earnings

The SEC is changing its tune. Under Chair Atkins, the agency is stepping away from its erstwhile lawsuit-heavy approach and is leaning into a more cooperative stance, especially when it comes to crypto.

Big changes are afoot with the SEC rethinking how companies report their earnings and how it regulates digital assets.

Speaking to CNBS on 19 September 2025, Atkins said that the agency is prioritising reforms that could ease quarterly reporting rules. This gives crypto companies a lot more flexibility to set their own reporting schedules.

Further, Atkins pointed out that semi-annual reporting is already the norm for foreign companies trading in US markets.

This move lines up with Trump’s push on 15 September 2025, to ditch quarterly earnings in favour of twice-a-year disclose. With Republicans holding a 3-1 majority at the SEC, the proposal has political momentum on its side.

But that’s not all! Atkins is also rolling out new guardrails for crypto oversight. In a report dated 15 September 2025, Atkins announced the end of “regulation by enforcement”, a strategy that defined Gary Gensler’s era.

Instead of launching lawsuits, the SEC will now give firms early warnings about potential violations and up to six months to fix them before taking any action.

EXPLORE: 9+ Best Memecoin to Buy in 2025

Key Takeaways

  • President Trump’s executive order has paved the way for crypto to enter America’s 401(k) retirement kitty
  • The order asks the Labour Department to revise ERISA rules, easing retirement access to crypto, real estate, and private equityThe
  • The SEC is preparing for reforms, including relaxed reporting schedules and early warnings to firms about potential violations instead of launching lawsuits

The post Will Your 401(k) Go Crypto? Washington Pushes SEC To Say Yes appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Also read: Bitcoin News: Was die Ruhe bei BTC für Michal Saylor bedeutet
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
Related News