TLDR
- 53% of Americans oppose employers adding cryptocurrency to workplace retirement plans.
- 77% view crypto in retirement accounts as risky, with 46% calling it very risky.
- 80% believe the US faces a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020.
- The Labor Department has removed guidance that discouraged crypto in 401(k) plans.
- Democratic lawmakers have asked regulators to withdraw a proposal easing crypto access in retirement accounts.
A new survey shows most Americans do not want cryptocurrency added to their workplace retirement plans. The National Institute on Retirement Security found that 53% oppose employers offering crypto as an investment option.
The survey also found that 77% of respondents see crypto in retirement plans as risky. Within that group, 46% called it very risky.
Greenwald Research conducted the poll between October 24 and November 14, 2025. It included 1,203 US residents aged 25 and older.
Results were weighted by age, gender, and income to reflect the national adult population.
Retirement Worries Extend Beyond Crypto
The survey found broader concern about retirement security. Eighty percent of respondents said the country faces a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020.
Sixty-one percent said they worry about reaching financial security in retirement. Inflation and market swings were cited as major factors behind that concern.
Debt also played a large role. Seventy-seven percent said debt keeps them from saving enough, while 68% said preparing for retirement has gotten harder.
Nearly half of respondents, 47%, said they have less than $100,000 saved for retirement. Eighteen percent reported no retirement savings at all.
The report also found that many people misunderstand how far their savings will stretch. Only 9% correctly estimated the annual income that $100,000 in savings would generate under a common withdrawal guideline.
Federal Policy Has Moved Toward More Access
Despite public caution, federal policy has trended toward allowing more crypto in retirement accounts. In May 2025, the Department of Labor withdrew guidance that told fiduciaries to use extreme care before adding crypto to plan menus.
President Trump signed an executive order in August 2025 covering crypto and other alternative assets in retirement plans. The order directed the Labor Department to review its fiduciary guidance.
Days later, the department also rescinded a 2021 statement that had discouraged fiduciaries from adding private equity to plans.
In March 2026, the Labor Department proposed a new rule for reviewing alternative assets, including crypto. The rule would not require employers to add these assets, but it would set standards fiduciaries could follow to reduce legal risk.
The proposal would cover more than 90 million retirement savers. It requires fiduciaries to examine fees, liquidity, valuation, and whether participants can understand the investment.
In June, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, along with Representative Bobby Scott, asked the department to withdraw the proposal. They argued that crypto could expose workers to volatility and fraud without the same protections as public securities.
The lawmakers also raised concerns about private equity and private credit investments in retirement plans. They said these assets can carry high fees and limited liquidity.
The Labor Department’s proposal remains open to public comment. Officials can revise, finalize, or withdraw it after that process ends.
Other data shows crypto ownership has grown modestly among the public. A Federal Reserve survey found 10% of US adults held or used crypto in 2025, up from 7% in 2024.
The retirement institute’s research also found that Social Security supplies about 52% of income for older Americans. Traditional pensions, which guarantee fixed payments, remain available to about 17% of workers.
The post Most Americans Oppose Crypto in Retirement Plans, Survey Shows appeared first on Blockonomi.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/most-americans-oppose-crypto-in-retirement-plans-survey-shows/
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