Trump administration pushes to ease 401(k) rules, potentially lowering bar for crypto

The Donald Trump administration is pursuing a plan to ease regulations on the inclusion of alternative assets in 401(k) retirement plans through the U.S. Department of Labor. According to a draft rule posted on the department's website, the new regulation aims to strengthen legal protections for companies, reduce the risk of class-action lawsuits, and make it easier to include alternative assets such as cryptocurrency, private credit, private equity, and real estate. Fiduciaries will be required to review the suitability of investments based on criteria including performance, fees, liquidity, and valuation. The move is expected to encourage greater participation from companies that have been hesitant to introduce alternative assets due to concerns over legal risks.