US Retirement System Could See Crypto Shakeup Under President Trump Plan — Here’s How

A new proposal introduced by President Donald Trump is set to shake up the US retirement system. This change would unlock access to crypto exposure within the $9 trillion retirement market, where even a modest allocation to crypto could translate into tens of billions in new capital flowing into digital assets.

Trump’s Crypto Pivot: Retirement Reform Or Risky Bet?

In an X post, NewsGate revealed an update concerning the new report in the Financial Times. The expert noted that President Donald Trump is preparing to open the $9 trillion US retirement market to cryptocurrency investments, which marks a significant shift from traditional retirement investment norms.

This direction aligns with recent developments, including Trump’s executive order signed on January 23, 2025, which explicitly supports the growth of the U.S crypto industry. The order called for regulatory clarity, innovation incentives, and infrastructure investment, which signals a renewed federal commitment to positioning America as a global crypto leader.

Reinforcing this direction, a Washington Post investigation revealed that 1 in 5 of Trump’s top appointees hold personal crypto assets, with a collective value of up to $120 million. These disclosures suggest direct financial alignment within the administration.

While interest in adding crypto to retirement accounts is growing, historical data from Investopedia highlights impending volatility. This is akin to Bitcoin’s surge to its previous high of $109,026.02 in January 2025 after Trump’s order, only to experience a sharp and sudden fluctuation in the weeks that followed.

Furthermore, this pattern of rapid appreciation has raised concerns about the suitability of cryptocurrencies in retirement portfolios. However, while digital assets like Bitcoin are often praised for their potential diversification benefits and inflation protection, their unpredictability may conflict with the core principles of long-term and stable retirement planning.

Clearing The Path For Alternative Assets

Market expert Evan has also shared insights on the impending bill. According to the expert, President Trump is expected to sign the executive order this week, which could transform the landscape of American retirement investing. 

As noted by the sources, the order would open up 401(k) retirement plans to alternative investments beyond the traditional stocks and bonds. This move could pave the way for assets like cryptocurrencies, private equity, and real estate to enter mainstream retirement portfolios.

These investments would run a broad spectrum of asset classes, ranging from digital assets to precious metals, specialized funds focused on corporate takeovers, private loans, and large-scale infrastructure deals.

Evan highlighted that the executive order would instruct Washington regulatory agencies to begin investigating the remaining legal and policy hurdles that currently prevent alternative investments from being included in professionally managed funds by 401(K) savers.