Analysis: New U.S. 401(k) retirement plan rules open the door to altcoins, though access barriers remain in the short term.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule allowing alternative assets like cryptocurrencies into 401(k) retirement plans was submitted to the White House for final review on November 5. The proposal does not restrict eligible cryptocurrency types nor set a minimum market capitalization threshold, meaning altcoins and small-to-medium market cap tokens could also gain access to U.S. retirement investment plans in the future. However, industry insiders note that asset management firms still need to comprehensively evaluate performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmark metrics, and investment complexity when selecting investment targets. Bitcoin and Ethereum, thanks to their mature markets and investment products, are expected to secure access first, while small-to-medium market cap tokens may face higher barriers due to insufficient historical data, limited liquidity, and a lack of reliable valuation benchmarks. Additionally, experts predict that crypto ETFs and managed funds will enter 401(k) plans before direct crypto holdings, as the former are easier to adapt to existing custody and account management systems. Industry projections show that some crypto investment options could launch as early as 2027, with coverage expanding further around 2028. The proposal still needs to complete White House review and subsequent legislative processes, and will not fully exempt retirement plan administrators from fiduciary duties or litigation risks.