The lawmakers asked the SEC to work with the Department of Labor to clarify how participant-directed defined-contribution plans could offer access to private equity, real estate and digital assets while still protecting workers.
That pullback left the department in a neutral stance and increased pressure on the SEC to lay out clearer rules for how such options could be offered.
Analysts and industry pieces have pointed out that a 1% allocation across a very large pool would translate into billions of dollars moving into crypto-related products. Plan sponsors and fund managers are already watching the math.
Some experts warn that adding these assets to plans without clear guardrails could expose plan sponsors to legal and financial risk. Reports show a mix of optimism and caution across the industry.
Featured image from Nasdaq, chart from TradingView