The White House Press Office confirmed to Cointelegraph that President Trump will sign an executive order allowing crypto exposure in US 401(k) retirement plans. US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order opening the door for cryptocurrencies to be included in 401(k) retirement plans, potentially reshaping how Americans invest their savings. The White House Press Office confirmed to Cointelegraph on Thursday that the order directs the US Labor Department to reevaluate restrictions around alternative assets in defined-contribution plans, including digital assets, private equity and real estate. A senior White House official said the order instructs the labor secretary to clarify the department’s stance on alternative assets and provide guidance on fiduciary processes for offering these types of investments in retirement portfolios. Read more
Carving out clear jurisdictions for the SEC and CFTC may ease investor concerns over ambiguous securities laws. The long-awaited White House report on cryptocurrency policy recommendations may bring an end to years of regulatory uncertainty for digital asset companies, many of which have struggled with unclear guidance regarding securities laws. US President Donald Trump’s Working Group on Digital Assets released its crypto policy report on Wednesday, outlining recommendations on market structure, banking regulations and methods to bolster the US dollar’s dominance through stablecoins and crypto tax laws. One of the report’s key proposals is a division of responsibilities between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC will gain authority over spot crypto markets, addressing longstanding concerns about overlapping or conflicting enforcement. Read more
A vote on prospective CFTC Chair Brian Quintenz was taken off the Senate Agriculture Committee’s agenda on Monday as the chamber heads into recess. The Senate Agriculture Committee has pulled a planned hearing on Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), following a request from the White House just days before lawmakers leave for August recess. In an update to the committee’s schedule on Monday, chair John Boozman and ranking member Amy Klobuchar said lawmakers would not consider Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the CFTC. A spokesperson for the committee told Cointelegraph that consideration of Quintenz’s nomination was removed following a request from the White House. Cointelegraph reached out to the White House for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. Read more