According to the Financial Times, three sources familiar with the matter revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to sign a major executive order that would open the $9 trillion 401(k) retirement market to alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies, gold, and private equity. The order is expected to be announced as early as this week and could fundamentally change how ordinary Americans manage their retirement savings.
The executive order is likely to allow 401(k) plans to invest in non-traditional assets beyond stocks and bonds, such as digital assets, precious metals, M&A-focused funds, private lending projects, and infrastructure investments. The U.S. Department of Labor will also be instructed to remove existing regulatory barriers and establish “safe harbor” provisions to reduce legal risks for plan providers introducing these high-fee, low-liquidity assets.
This move could channel hundreds of billions of dollars in fresh capital to private equity giants like Blackstone, Apollo, and BlackRock, and further integrate cryptocurrencies into the U.S. mainstream financial system.
It’s worth noting that the Trump administration had already reversed the Biden-era restrictions on crypto investments in 401(k) plans back in May, signaling a clear policy shift. In fact, the Trump family business has also announced investments in Bitcoin and plans to launch a stablecoin, demonstrating a deeper commitment to digital assets.
For everyday investors, this shift could transform the traditional “stocks + bonds” portfolio model into a more diversified, high-volatility, high-return strategy. However, risks such as lack of transparency in asset valuation, high volatility, and high management fees should not be overlooked.
Original source: WallstreetCN article
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