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Investing.com -- President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to expand access to alternative assets, including crypto, for American retirement savers has sparked swift reactions across financial markets. Aimed at “democratizing access” to asset classes historically reserved for institutional investors, the policy seeks to make as much as $8.7 trillion in 401(k) retirement savings eligible for exposure to assets such as private equity, real estate, and digital currencies.
The order directs the Department of Labor and federal financial regulators to revisit ERISA-related guidance and reduce fiduciary litigation risks that have deterred plan administrators from offering non-traditional investment vehicles. The initiative includes possible revisions to SEC regulations on accredited investor criteria in a move that could boost accessibility for millions of retail retirement savers.
Among the commentators is Andrei Grachev, managing partner at Falcon Finance, who sees a pathway for responsible crypto adoption in retirement plans. "Putting crypto in retirement accounts doesn’t have to expose savers to wild price swings," he said, advocating for fiat-backed stablecoins as an entry point into decentralized finance.
Grachev highlighted structural safeguards, such as clear reserves and licensed custodians, that could help bridge the gap between digital innovation and retirement security. "Yield-bearing versions, where returns are generated from on-chain lending or traditional assets like short-term treasuries, can deliver steady income that sits comfortably alongside bonds or money market funds."
Still, he emphasized that accessibility alone doesn’t guarantee security. "Stability is not the same as safety," Grachev noted, stressing that asset providers and fiduciaries must "dig into reserve quality, how redemptions work, and which regulators are watching."
Despite concerns, the Trump administration’s move may find support among financial institutions eager to attract fee-based income and diversify product offerings. Asset managers with digital infrastructure built for compliance may now accelerate product development in anticipation of looser oversight and growing demand.
Legal challenges and political opposition could still slow implementation, particularly given the controversial inclusion of digital assets. However, with federal agencies now on the clock to reexamine existing guidance and propose new frameworks, the order sets the stage for a fundamental redefinition of what retirement investing in America could entail.