A survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security found that 77% of Americans consider cryptocurrency a risky investment option for workplace retirement plans, with 46% rating it as very risky.

The survey, conducted by Greenwald Research from Oct. 24 to Nov. 14, 2025, polled 1,203 adults aged 25 and older and indicated that 80% of respondents view the United States as facing a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020. Most respondents (68%) said affording retirement has become harder, and 77% said debt limits their ability to save.

The findings come as the Trump administration and federal regulators have taken steps to broaden alternative assets in 401(k) plans. In May 2025, the Department of Labor rescinded guidance that required fiduciaries to exercise "extreme care" when evaluating cryptocurrency investments, adopting a neutral stance. On Aug. 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expand access to digital assets in retirement plans and directed the Labor Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to consider regulatory changes. Subsequently, the Labor Department rescinded 2021 guidance discouraging alternative assets and, in March 2026, proposed rules that would allow fiduciaries to include alternative investments, including crypto, with certain risk‑mitigation provisions. Legislative opposition emerged in June, when Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Bobby Scott urged the department to withdraw the proposal, citing volatility and insufficient investor protections.

The survey highlights public skepticism about crypto in retirement savings, while policy discussions continue to shape the regulatory landscape.