The US Department of Labor published a proposed rule to allow crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. With $7.4T in US 401(k) assets, even a 1-2% allocation represents $74-148B in potential Bitcoin demand.
The US Department of Labor published a proposed rule to allow crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. With $7.4T in US 401(k) assets, even a 1-2% allocation represents $74-148B in potential Bitcoin demand.
The US Department of Labor published a proposed rule in the Federal Register seeking to expand 401(k) investment options to include digital assets like Bitcoin.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the proposed rule will show how plans can consider products that better reflect the investment landscape as it exists today, calling it a major win for American workers, retirees, and their families.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins added that broadening American investors access to well-diversified, long-term investments is a critical priority for effective retirement planning.
US 401(k) plans hold roughly $7.4 trillion in assets. At BlackRock recommended 1% allocation, that is $74 billion in potential Bitcoin demand. At Morgan Stanley recommended 2-4%, it is $148-296 billion. Current total spot Bitcoin ETF AUM is approximately $85 billion.
401(k) contributions are automatic and recurring. Every paycheck becomes a potential Bitcoin purchase, creating sustained demand from millions of American workers. This is a completely different demand profile than episodic ETF inflows.
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation — which custody over $114 trillion in securities and settles nearly every US stock trade — will facilitate its first production tokenized securities transactions on July 15, 2026, with a 50-firm working group including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Nasdaq. The rollout covers Russell 1000 equities, major ETFs, and US Treasuries, with full commercial launch targeted for October 2026.
The OCC granted Circle final approval to establish Circle National Trust, a federally supervised national trust bank, placing the world's second-largest stablecoin (USDC, $73.2B) under direct federal banking oversight — with reserve management as a planned future capability.
Morgan Stanley amended SEC filings for its proposed Ethereum (MSSE) and Solana (MSOL) ETFs with a 0.14% management fee — the lowest in crypto ETFs — while offering staking yield (50-80% ETH, up to 100% SOL). Its Bitcoin ETF (MSBT), launched just April 8, already holds $364M.