- A survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security found that 77% of respondents said adding crypto assets to workplace retirement plans is risky.
- The Trump administration has pushed to expand the inclusion of alternative assets in retirement plans, withdrawing earlier guidance on crypto investment by 401(k) fiduciaries and shifting to a neutral stance.
- The Labor Department proposed an alternative-asset investment lineup rule that covers fees, liquidity, valuation and performance and includes a safe harbor to reduce litigation risk, but some lawmakers urged its withdrawal, citing crypto volatility and insufficient investor protections.
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Nearly eight in 10 US adults see adding crypto to workplace retirement plans as risky, highlighting a disconnect with the Trump administration’s push to widen access to alternative assets in retirement accounts.
According to Cointelegraph on Aug. 26, a survey commissioned by the National Institute on Retirement Security and conducted by Greenwald Research found that 77% of respondents said including crypto in employer-sponsored retirement plans is risky. Of that group, 46% called it “very risky,” while 53% said they oppose employers offering crypto as an investment option. The survey was conducted from Oct. 24 to Nov. 14, 2025, among 1,203 Americans age 25 and older.
Concern about retirement preparedness was also elevated. Some 80% of respondents said the US is facing a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020. Another 61% said they are worried about achieving financial security after retiring, while 68% said preparing for retirement is becoming increasingly difficult. A further 77% said debt is preventing them from saving enough.
That sentiment runs counter to the Trump administration’s policy direction. In May 2025, the US Department of Labor withdrew earlier guidance that had urged 401(k) fiduciaries to exercise “extreme care” when considering crypto investments, adopting a neutral stance instead. On Aug. 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expand access to alternative assets, including digital assets, in defined-contribution retirement plans. He also directed the Labor Department and the US Securities and Exchange Commission to review related regulations.
In March 2026, the Labor Department proposed a rule outlining how 401(k) fiduciaries could include alternative assets in investment lineups. The proposal calls for consideration of fees, liquidity, valuation and performance, and includes a safe-harbor provision intended to reduce litigation risk. But Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Bobby Scott urged the department in June 2026 to withdraw the proposal, citing crypto’s volatility and a lack of investor protections.
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