U.S. Labor Department Rolls Back 2022 Crypto Warning for 401(k) Plans

On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed revising its approach to digital assets in 401(k) retirement plans, reversing the 2022 guidance that urged fiduciaries to use "extreme care." The proposal removes any categorical ban and introduces a six-part safe-harbor checklist covering performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarking, and fiduciary understanding. Separately, on March 30, Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bill Cassidy introduced the "Mined in America Act" tied to domestic mining equipment and a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.