Donald Trump has just signed a landmark executive order that will reshape how millions of Americans build wealth by opening the doors of the $9 trillion US retirement market to cryptocurrencies, private equity, and other alternative assets.
This move, which will allow crypto exposure within 401(k) plans for the first time, is one of the boldest steps yet to embed digital assets at the heart of the global financial system.
“This is a defining moment not just for crypto, but for the entire future of finance,” says Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere Group.
“The world’s largest economy is saying, in effect, that digital assets now belong in the core of long-term wealth strategies. This has global implications.”
The executive order instructs US regulators to revisit and update existing frameworks that have long restricted access to private market and crypto investments in professionally managed retirement accounts.
More than 90 million US workers participate in 401(k) plans, historically focused on equities and bonds. For decades, these plans have excluded entire categories of high-growth assets, including Bitcoin and other digital currencies, despite growing investor interest.
“This is yet another breakthrough moment for crypto,” Nigel Green continues.
“Institutional capital from retail retirement accounts had been the final frontier. Once that capital starts flowing in, the integration of digital assets into traditional portfolios becomes irreversible.”
The US is not acting in isolation. Other major economies are expected to follow suit. In Europe, regulators are already fielding calls to modernize pension rules.
In Asia, where digital assets are booming and adoption rates remain high, the pressure to match Washington’s momentum is already building.
The timing of this announcement is critical. Digital currencies have surged in 2025, with Bitcoin reaching fresh all-time highs, driven by renewed corporate adoption, sovereign interest, and the green light from regulatory regimes.
