Weekly Cryptocurrency Surges: Ranking the Top 10 Performers in Week 32
In a significant move, President Trump signed an executive order in August 2025, titled "Democratizing Access for 401(k) Investors." This order aims to facilitate easier access to alternative assets like cryptocurrencies, private equity, and real estate within defined contribution plans.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has rescinded its 2022 guidance that required fiduciaries to exercise "extreme care" when including cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans. This shift marks a return to a historical neutral approach, assessing cryptocurrencies through a "facts and circumstances" fiduciary standard similar to other investments.
The new executive order removes previous regulatory barriers and restores a fiduciary evaluation standard that treats cryptocurrencies like any other asset class. This move is expected to accelerate the adoption curve of cryptocurrencies by making them a viable option within mainstream retirement savings plans, potentially increasing demand and legitimacy for crypto investments.
Fiduciaries still retain responsibility to carefully evaluate the risks and appropriateness of crypto investments, but the removal of stringent regulatory caution signals increased institutional support and confidence. Practical considerations remain, such as handling the illiquidity of some alternative assets and ensuring proper custodian arrangements for digital currencies.
The market is responding positively to this regulatory change. Leading the momentum is Mantle (MNT), a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, with a staggering 42.1% gain. Other cryptocurrencies showing strong, steady recoveries include Aave, Litecoin, Chainlink, Uniswap, XRP, Stellar (XLM), POL (formerly MATIC), Optimism (OP), Algorand, Cardano, Dogecoin, Arbitrum, Pudgy Penguins (PENGU), and a handful of ETH liquid staking tokens like stETH, rETH, and weETH.
This regulatory change represents a significant step toward mainstreaming cryptocurrencies as an acceptable alternative asset, likely boosting growth in crypto allocations within 401(k) plans over the coming years. The new executive order could reshape the broader crypto adoption curve, potentially normalizing crypto as part of diversified portfolios.
[1] Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/26/trump-signs-executive-order-to-ease-cryptocurrency-regulation-for-retirement-plans.html [2] Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-dol-rescinds-cryptocurrency-guidance-401-k-plans-2025-08-26/ [3] Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2025/08/26/executive-order-on-democratizing-access-for-401k-investors/ [4] Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-26/trump-said-to-sign-executive-order-to-ease-cryptocurrency-rules [5] Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/26/trump-signs-executive-order-to-ease-cryptocurrency-regulation-for-retirement-plans.html
- The new executive order, titled "Democratizing Access for 401(k) Investors," could lead to increased investing in cryptocurrencies as a viable option within mainstream retirement savings plans, thus potentially boosting growth in crypto allocations and democratizing access to this asset class in the finance sector.
- With the removal of stringent regulatory barriers, the adoption curve of cryptocurrencies may be accelerated, reshaping the broader crypto adoption curve and normalizing crypto as part of diversified portfolios, particularly in the realm of technology-driven investments.
