7am Part 1: How Trump is shaping the financial industry in crypto’s favour
Sep 9, 2025
Nick Robins-Early, a tech and power reporter for The Guardian, breaks down Trump's surprising pivot from crypto skeptic to a supporter. He discusses the administration's executive orders that now allow retirement funds to invest in cryptocurrencies, unlocking massive financial potential. The conversation explores the appointment of a 'crypto czar' and compares current policies to the previous administration's cautious stance. Additionally, the podcast touches on the implications of recent fraud cases in the crypto world and the evolving landscape of regulation.
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Executive Order Opens Retirement Funds
- Trump's August 7 executive order directs Labor, Treasury and the SEC to create pathways for 401(k) plans to offer alternative assets including crypto.
- This formally opens retirement funds to digital-asset managers previously excluded by cautious guidance.
Regulatory Caution Has Been Downgraded
- The Department of Labor's 2022 warning about crypto was downgraded to neutral, removing a major regulatory red flag for retirement funds.
- That shift gives fund managers impetus to explore digital assets and potentially access trillions in 401(k) dollars.
Trillions In Retirement Assets At Stake
- The order gives Labor 180 days to review rules, but private market and crypto funds already see a new distribution channel to trillions in retirement assets.
- Even a small allocation from $8.7 trillion in 401(k) holdings would be a big boost to crypto and alternative funds.