On August 26, 2026, the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) published a study that reignited the debate within the crypto community. The survey, conducted between October 24 and November 15, 2025, was conducted by Greenwald Research among 1,203 Americans ages 25 and older. The result? 77% of Americans view cryptocurrencies as a risky investment in company retirement plans. 46% even consider them very risky. That’s not all! The survey also indicates that 53% of respondents do not want employers to offer crypto as an investment option in 401(k)s.
In brief
- 77% of Americans consider crypto risky for their retirement.
- Among them, 46% consider it very risky.
- 53% refuse a crypto option offered by their employer.
- Washington makes it easier to access 401(k)s, without making it mandatory.
Crypto debate in 401(k)s heats up further in 2026
THE figures published by the NIRS highlight two distinct facts:
- 46% of Americans surveyed consider the presence of crypto-assets (notably bitcoin) in a retirement savings plan “very risky”;
- 31% consider it “quite risky”.
In total, 77% of Americans surveyed therefore associate cryptocurrency poses a risk in professional retirement savings.
Conversely, 10% consider this choice to be low risk and 2% do not attribute any risk to it. The remaining 10% say they are not aware of any discrepancies in the totals resulting from the rounding applied by the institute.
The NIRS nevertheless highlights an important point: perception of risk does not automatically mean refusal. The survey shows that 53% of participants are opposed to what their employer offers a crypto option. Among them, 33% are firmly opposed to it. On the other hand, 26% support this possibility and 21% do not comment.
Why do 77% of Americans consider crypto risky?
According to the result of the study published by the NIRSthe 24-point gap between perceived risk and declared opposition is of particular importance. He suggests in fact that some Americans could accept the existence of a crypto option. They consider it risky, without actually using it themselves.
The main cause of this reluctance: limited knowledge of digital assets. According to the NIRS, 47% of people surveyed have heard of crypto without knowing it well. 4% have never heard of it. Upstream, only 9% say they already hold this type of investment and 15% say they are very familiar with it. the crypto universe
Dan Doonan, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security, also links this caution to the pressures already weighing on households. On August 26, he said:
Americans tell us that retirement security is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as they struggle with the affordability of daily life. Housing, healthcare, debt and other expenses compete with the need to save for retirement. At the same time, Americans face new questions about artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency as the retirement landscape becomes increasingly complex.
That’s not all! This distrust of crypto assets is part of a broader financial concern. The report establishes that 80% of Americans see a national retirement crisis, compared to 67% in 2020. 61% even fear not achieving financial security once retired.
Another important detail: inflation fuels the concerns of 73% of respondents and market volatility those of 62%.
Crypto in 401(k): Washington accelerates despite 53% opposition
On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor withdraws a 2022 recommendation that asked 401(k) plan sponsors to exercise “extreme caution” beforeadd a crypto option. The administration then reestablished a neutral approach between asset categories, without imposing their inclusion.
On August 7, 2025, Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14330 aimed at expanding defined contribution plans’ access to alternative assets. The Department of Labor then published on March 31, 2026 a draft rule creating a legal protection system based on the selection method. Managers should consider six criteria:
- performance ;
- costs ;
- liquidity;
- valuation;
- comparison index;
- complexity.
As of the date of publication of the NIRS report, this text remains a proposal. He does not make the crypto required in 401(k)s.
In the short term, regulatory relaxation thus guarantees neither adoption nor massive flows towards digital assets. The NIRS survey also shows that the decisive battle will be about trust, information and risk management.
In any case, this study raises questions about the place of cryptocurrencies in the American financial architecture. If crypto regulation continues to relax under the leadership of the White House, the gap between the growing institutional offer and the persistent distrust of savers could become one of the major economic and political debates of the coming years in the United States.
Maximize your Tremplin.io experience with our ‘Read to Earn’ program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.
