<h2 id="crypto-news">Crypto News</h2>
SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated Thursday that 401(k) plans should begin including cryptocurrency investments with appropriate protections in place. The comments came <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/01/29/sec-cftc-chairs-on-crypto-regulation-we-can-codify-sensible-rules-of-the-road-for-the-asset-class.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">during</a> a CNBC interview as the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced market structure legislation that expands CFTC oversight.
Atkins noted many individuals already have exposure to digital assets through pension funds. The chair said the timing is appropriate for retirement accounts to incorporate crypto, provided the inclusion proceeds with measured guardrails protecting retirees from excessive risk.
President Trump signed an executive order in August 2025 allowing crypto investments in 401(k) retirement plans. The directive opened access to a $10 trillion market, with the White House citing competitive returns and diversification benefits from alternative assets such as digital currencies.
The Department of Labor previously advised fiduciaries to exercise extreme caution before adding cryptocurrency options to 401(k) plan investment menus. The Trump administration's executive order reversed that guidance, creating new opportunities for retirement account managers to offer digital asset exposure.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig projected that digital assets will flourish under forthcoming U.S. regulatory standards during the same interview. His remarks followed the Senate Agriculture Committee spending less than an hour advancing crypto market structure legislation that clarifies oversight boundaries between the CFTC and SEC.
Selig described blockchain technology's evolution over 15 years and its impact on market development. The chair stated that many technologies and assets moved offshore due to regulatory uncertainty, and expressed intent to bring those businesses back to the United States through clear rules.
The CFTC head said collaboration with the SEC on national standards would allow the asset class to thrive domestically. Selig projected new on-chain markets and financial applications would emerge, positioning the U.S. as the premier destination for digital asset business operations.
His optimistic outlook came as Congress works toward combining the Agriculture and Banking Committee bills before full Senate consideration. The legislation faces procedural hurdles before becoming law, though both regulatory chiefs indicated commitment to modernizing oversight regardless of congressional timelines.

SEC Chief Paul Atkins Backs Crypto in 401(k) Retirement Plans

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