More than three-quarters of Americans view cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans as a risky investment, as concerns about retirement security grow across the United States. This is according to the findings of a new survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security. The study found that 77% of Americans consider cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans to be risky, with 46% describing it as very risky, and 53% opposing employers offering cryptocurrency as an investment option.
Skepticism toward cryptocurrency is growing against the backdrop of 80% of respondents saying the United States faces a retirement crisis — up from 67% in 2020 — while 61% expressed concern about achieving financial security after retirement. Rising living costs are also taking a toll on retirement savings: 68% said preparing for retirement is becoming more difficult, and 77% reported that debt prevents them from saving enough. The survey was conducted by Greenwald Research from October 24 to November 14, 2025, and covered 1,203 Americans aged 25 and older, with results weighted by age, gender, and income.
Although the report shows that Americans broadly view cryptocurrency as risky for retirement savings, federal regulators have taken steps to expand access to alternative assets in retirement accounts. In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor rescinded guidance that had urged 401(k) plan fiduciaries to exercise "extreme caution" when considering cryptocurrency investments, reverting to a neutral stance that neither endorses nor discourages the inclusion of cryptocurrency in retirement plan investment lineups.
In August 2025, an executive order was signed aimed at expanding access to alternative assets in defined contribution retirement plans, including investment vehicles holding digital assets. The order also directed the Department of Labor and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to consider regulatory changes to facilitate such access. Later, in March 2026, the Department of Labor proposed rules outlining how 401(k) plan fiduciaries may include alternative assets in investment lineups, including safe harbor provisions designed to reduce litigation risk while requiring consideration of factors such as fees, liquidity, valuation, and performance.
The proposal met resistance from a number of lawmakers, who in June called on the Department of Labor to withdraw it, citing cryptocurrency's volatility and insufficient investor protections. The debate between proponents of expanded investment options and critics wary of risks to Americans' retirement savings continues to shape the regulatory landscape for alternative assets in the U.S. retirement system.