Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, maintain their upward trend; surge inspired by Trump's decree and weak American economic data.
In a significant move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August 2025, allowing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to be included in 401(k) retirement plans. This decision has expanded investor access to alternative assets, including crypto, private equity, and real estate, marking a potential opening of a market volume of around $9 trillion for crypto investments.
The executive order directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to revise its fiduciary guidelines to treat crypto investments under a "facts and circumstances" standard rather than an "extreme care" cautionary approach. This change means fiduciaries overseeing 401(k) plans can now include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as investment options if they deem such assets appropriate for plan participants to potentially enhance risk-adjusted returns.
The inclusion of crypto in 401(k) plans could lead to incremental inflows of retirement capital into Bitcoin and other digital assets over time, supporting demand and potentially stabilizing prices due to a new category of long-term holders. However, experts caution that most average investors might face risks from volatile and complex asset classes like crypto and private equity, and that fiduciaries must carefully evaluate suitability on a case-by-case basis.
While the order itself is not an explicit endorsement of crypto, it marks a substantial regulatory shift away from prior restrictive guidance that discouraged crypto in retirement plans. This regulatory clarity and broader acceptance have increased institutional confidence in allowing crypto exposure in 401(k)s.
In the crypto market, Ethereum has broken through a resistance level at $3,900 in the short-term, and a long-term resistance zone has been broken in the ETH/BTC chart. The new target for Ethereum is 0.037 BTC. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is currently working through several crucial zones, with the next important zone being around $120,000 to $121,000.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin Hyper, a layer-2 platform that enhances Bitcoin's usability, allowing for ultra-fast transactions and minimal costs, has raised over 7.2 million US dollars in its current presale. Permanently locked BTC within the Bitcoin Hyper network can potentially reduce supply pressure on the Bitcoin spot market as adoption grows. The Meme-Token HYPER is required for all transactions on the Bitcoin Hyper network and serves as a staking instrument, comes with governance rights, and enables access to exclusive dApps or features.
The current price of 0.0125 US dollars per HYPER will remain for a few more hours before the next phase begins. Bitcoin Hyper supports a wide range of use cases, including decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, NFT platforms, blockchain-based games, and meme tokens. It is considered one of the most promising Layer-2 projects in the current market cycle.
In another development, Bitcoin's price recovered to around $114,000 in Asian trading after a dip to $112,000 on Tuesday. A classic bullish chart pattern, an inverse head and shoulders formation, is forming in Bitcoin's chart. Historically, monetary easing in the U.S. has strongly influenced Bitcoin. In 2024, there was a 90% price increase within a few weeks after the last cut.
The labor market in the U.S. shows weaknesses, leading to expectations of three rate cuts by the end of the year, with the first potentially occurring in 40 days. The ISM Services PMI in the U.S. came in at 50.1 points, below expectations of 51.5, signaling a cooling economy.
The integration of the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) in a Bitcoin context is a first. Investing in Bitcoin Hyper comes with risks, as it is a memecoin with significant growth potential. However, the potential benefits, such as increased demand and stability in the crypto market due to long-term holders, make it an exciting venture for those willing to take on the risks.
In conclusion, the expansion of crypto investments in 401(k) retirement plans represents a significant step forward for Bitcoin and the crypto market. The potential inflow of retirement capital into digital assets could support demand and stabilize prices, while the inclusion of Bitcoin Hyper in the market presents an exciting opportunity for those willing to take on the risks. The regulatory shift towards broader acceptance of crypto in retirement plans is a testament to the growing maturity and legitimacy of the crypto market.
[1] CNN Business [2] Bloomberg [3] The Wall Street Journal [4] Forbes [5] Investopedia
- The executive order allows for other digital assets, like Bitcoin, to be included in 401(k) plans, potentially increasing their exposure to technology-driven assets.
- The inclusion of Bitcoin Hyper, a layer-2 platform, in the market signifies a broader acceptance of other technologies in the crypto space, such as decentralized exchanges and NFT platforms.
