Rule allowing crypto in 401(k)s reaches White House for final review

A Labor Department rule that could open retirement plans to digital assets is now sitting with the White House for a final look A rule that would allow crypto in 401(k) plans has reached the White House for final review. This is the late stage of a process that began with a presidential order in 2025. For an industry that has spent years knocking on the retirement-plan door, the door is now noticeably closer to opening. What the rule actually does The rule comes from the Department of Labor (DOL). Its formal title is “Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives.” The proposal lays out a defined process for fiduciaries to evaluate those options. The factors include performance, fees, liquidity, valuation requirements, benchmarks and complexity. Crypto and other alternative assets would be weighed using that same framework. The rule doesn’t mandate that any plan add digital assets. How the rule got here The process traces back to President Trump’s Executive Order 14330, signed on August 7, 2025. It directed the DOL to revisit its guidance under ERISA, the federal law governing private retirement plans, within 180 days. The order specifically called for a fresh lo...