retirement

According to a report by Shangguan News, on May 17, 2026, an elderly man in his 70s, Mr. Gong, from Shuxin Town, Chongming, Shanghai, was deceived by a scammer posing as an "investment mentor" on a short video platform. He was lured into investing in Bitcoin with the bait of "low investment, high returns" and attempted to withdraw 100,000 yuan in cash for transfer at different bank branches twice.After noticing the unusual behavior, the bank teller activated the anti-fraud warning mechanism and coordinated with the police to intervene and dissuade him. The police explained to the elderly man, using real cases, that virtual currency trading and speculation are explicitly prohibited in the country, and that so-called "Bitcoin investments" are all scams. They helped him delete the fraudulent software and block the scammer on WeChat on the spot. After two rounds of patient persuasion from the police and the bank, the elderly man ultimately recognized the scam and gave up the transfer.

The New York State Retirement Fund increased its exposure to Bitcoin by adding $41 million in MicroStrategy stock.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed allowing 401(k) retirement plans to include alternative assets such as private equity and cryptocurrencies, aiming to break long-standing investment barriers.The proposal requires trustees to conduct strict reviews of factors such as asset performance, fees, and liquidity, with compliant parties receiving legal protection. Private equity giants like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo are expected to tap into new sources of capital as a result, with related stock prices rising following the announcement. Treasury Secretary Yellen stated that this move is a preliminary measure to "protect retirement assets." The proposal will open a 60-day public comment period. Critics, such as Senator Warren, have warned that this move could expose retirement savings to high-risk assets.

According to Cointelegraph, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the White House has completed its review of a proposal from the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding allowing 401(k) fiduciaries to include alternative assets (including digital assets) in the evaluation scope of retirement plans.OIRA marked the conclusion of this review as "change approved" and categorized the proposal as "economically significant." The Department of Labor is expected to release proposed rules next, initiating a 60-day public comment period, after which final rules are typically published following revisions. The completion of this review is a follow-up to the executive order issued by Trump on August 7, 2025.This executive order requires federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans, including gaining exposure to digital assets through specific investment tools, and mandates the Department of Labor to reassess regulations that restrict private equity, real estate, and digital assets from entering defined contribution plans, while also requiring the Treasury to collaborate with the SEC to support rule revisions.In May 2025, the Department of Labor rescinded a compliance guideline from the Biden administration that required fiduciaries to be "extremely cautious" when including cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans, marking a fundamental shift in the federal government's attitude towards including digital assets in retirement plans.According to data from the Investment Company Institute, as of September 30, 2025, the financial assets in the U.S. retirement market have reached a record $48.1 trillion. Additionally, the Indiana state legislature passed a bill on February 25 requiring certain state retirement and savings plans to offer at least one cryptocurrency investment option by July 1, 2027.

According to Cointelegraph, the proposal supported by Trump to "allow cryptocurrencies and private equity to be included in 401(k) retirement plans" has passed White House review. The U.S. Department of Labor is expected to issue relevant rules soon.

According to PRNewswire, investment app Public has announced support for cryptocurrency trading in U.S. Individual Retirement Accounts and Roth IRAs, currently supporting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Users can manage cryptocurrencies alongside stocks and options, thereby building a more unified retirement investment portfolio.Previously, it was reported that Public acquired Alto's cryptocurrency retirement account business for $65 million, with AUM of approximately $600 million.

Asset management company VanEck has partnered with fintech company Basic Capital to incorporate some digital asset ETFs into its corporate 401(k) retirement plan platform, allowing U.S. retirement savers to indirectly invest in crypto assets through exchange-traded funds. VanEck's products include the spot Bitcoin ETF VanEck Bitcoin Trust (HODL) and the Ethereum ETF VanEck Ethereum Trust (ETHV).Previously, the U.S. Department of Labor had withdrawn restrictive guidance on providing crypto investments in 401(k) plans.

According to Cointelegraph, the Governor of Indiana has officially signed HB 1042 (the Bitcoin Bill) into law. The bill aims to protect Bitcoin rights, prohibit discriminatory tax policies against cryptocurrencies, and allow the use of digital assets in state retirement plans.According to previous reports, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.

According to market news, the California Public Employees' Retirement Fund increased its holdings in Bitcoin treasury company Strategy (stock code: MSTR) by 22,475 shares, bringing its total holdings to 470,632 shares, valued at approximately $59 million.The retirement fund manages assets of approximately $611 billion.

According to market news, the Indiana Senate Committee is advancing the HB1042 bill, which allows state retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrency.

The Ohio Teachers Retirement Fund in the United States disclosed an increase of 12,453 shares of Strategy stock, bringing its total holdings to 87,689 shares of Strategy, valued at approximately 11 million dollars.

The chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, stated: "Now is the right time to allow cryptocurrencies into 401k retirement accounts."

According to BitcoinTreasuries.NET, the latest report from the Louisiana State Employees Fund, which has a scale of approximately $15.6 billion, shows that it currently holds 17,900 shares of the Bitcoin fund company Strategy (stock code MSTR), with a holding value of about $3.2 million based on the price at the time of disclosure.

According to The Block, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Monday that the Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, Cicely LaMothe, is set to retire. LaMothe has led several key cryptocurrency policies over the past year, including the clear indication that meme coins do not fall under securities and outlining the SEC's stance on staking.She joined the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance in 2002, having previously worked in the private sector and holding a CPA license. LaMothe's retirement comes as the SEC enters its second year of a more crypto-friendly direction, during which the SEC has approved specific cryptocurrency ETF listing standards, launched the "crypto project" to update digital asset rules, and dismissed enforcement cases against several well-known crypto companies.The SEC also announced that the Deputy Director of the Enforcement Division's Southeast Region, Nekia Hackworth Jones, has completed her term at the end of December.

Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy posted on social media that some builders and KOLs who claim to "exit the crypto industry" before the age of 30 have not truly engaged deeply in industry development, and their statements are misleading. Gaevoy pointed out that this group of people is often not long-term investors but chose to leave at an early stage, so it does not constitute a genuine "exit." He believes that describing brief participation as "exiting the industry" is essentially about gaining industry experience and reputation that do not belong to them, which is unfair to long-term practitioners. Gaevoy emphasized that the development of the crypto industry relies on continuous investment and construction, and leaving after a short-term attempt should not be packaged as a symbolically significant personal choice.

Former Nasdaq Digital Assets Head Ira Auerbach stated that the U.S. is preparing to further solidify the regulatory framework of the GENIUS Act by 2026. Stablecoin issuers that have relied on offshore regulatory systems will find that relocating reserves and operations back to the U.S. will bring significant advantages. Additionally, Ira Auerbach mentioned that some retirement plan providers are ready to test deploying 0.5% to 1% cryptocurrency exposure in target date funds and balanced funds, which could create a stable demand somewhat correlated with market cycles.(Note: Target date funds are designed to meet individual retirement investment needs, while balanced funds are guaranteed funds that allocate a fixed proportion of common stocks, preferred stocks, and bonds.)

According to market news, the U.S. Congress is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to approve the inclusion of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans.Members of the House Financial Services Committee have written to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, urging him to update securities rules to treat digital assets as an investment category equivalent to other alternative investments within retirement accounts. The lawmakers pointed out that Americans saving for retirement deserve more investment options, as current rules are outdated and overly restrictive, hindering millions from accessing new asset classes. They also emphasized the need to redefine the "accredited investor" standard. Currently, strict investor qualification regulations limit participation in certain private and alternative investment markets.Such plans are typically only available to wealthy or high-net-worth individuals. Congress now hopes to expand the rules to include individuals with professional licenses, relevant work experience, or those who can pass competency exams. The lawmakers also stated that the SEC should coordinate with the Department of Labor, which oversees retirement plan fiduciaries, to jointly develop rules. They believe that the two agencies need to find a safe and responsible way to incorporate alternative assets into the investment options of 401(k) plans.

According to The Block, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) submitted a petition to the U.S. Senate on Monday, calling for the withdrawal of the cryptocurrency market structure bill, warning that the proposal poses "serious risks" to pensions and the broader U.S. economy. In a letter first obtained by CNBC, the union organization pointed out that the Responsible Financial Innovation Act fails to establish adequate regulatory protections against the inherent risks of cryptocurrency assets and stablecoins.AFT President Randi Weingarten wrote in the letter, "This bill not only fails to provide the necessary regulatory measures and common-sense safeguards but also exposes working families—those currently with no connection to cryptocurrency—to economic risks and threatens the stability of their retirement security." The union, representing 1.8 million members, stated that its "fundamental purpose" is to maintain a robust and reliable pension system for retired workers.The main reason for opposing the bill is the concern that it may pave the way for digital assets to enter retirement portfolios, including AFT pensions. Weingarten emphasized that a key concern is that the bill could allow non-crypto companies to tokenize equity through blockchain, thereby circumventing existing securities law regulations. She noted that this could bypass requirements for registration, disclosure, and intermediary oversight, undermining investor protection channels and regulatory accountability mechanisms.Weingarten stated, "This loophole and the erosion of traditional securities law will have catastrophic consequences: even if pensions and 401(k) plans invest in traditional securities, they may ultimately hold unsafe assets." In addition to retirement pensions, the letter also pointed out that the bill lacks sufficient regulatory measures against illegal activities in the crypto market, warning that its loopholes could lay the groundwork for "the next financial crisis."

According to BitcoinTreasuries.NET monitoring, the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), which manages assets totaling $60 billion, has increased its holdings of Strategy (MSTR) stock to $15 million.