Looking back at history: What lessons can we learn from introducing crypto assets into 401(k) pension plans?Recommended | Bee Network
Original author: Chen Mo cmDeFi (X: @cmdefi)
On August 7, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing 401(k) retirement savings plans to invest in more diversified assets, including private equity, real estate, and, for the first time, криптовалюта assets.
This policy is easy to interpret as it appears on the surface.
Providing “national-level” endorsement for the crypto market and sending a signal to promote the maturity of the crypto market. Pension funds expand investment diversification and returns, but introduce higher volatility and risk.In the crypto world, this is enough to go down in history.
Looking back at the evolution of 401(k)s, a key turning point was the passage of pension reforms during the Great Depression that allowed for stock investments. While the historical and economic contexts differ, this change shares many similarities with the current trend toward the introduction of crypto assets.
1/6 · Pension system before the Great DepressionFrom the early 20th century to the 1920s, U.S. pension systems were primarily based on defined benefit plans (DBPs), where employers promised to provide employees with a stable monthly pension after retirement. This model, originating from the industrialization process of the late 19th century, was designed to attract and retain workers.
During this period, pension fund investment strategies were highly conservative. The prevailing wisdom was that pension funds should pursue safety over high returns. Due to the “Legal List” regulations, pension funds were primarily limited to low-risk assets such as government bonds, high-quality corporate bonds, and municipal bonds.
This conservative strategy works well during economic booms, but it also limits potential returns.
2/6 · The Impact of the Great Depression and the Pension CrisisThe Wall Street Crash of October 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted nearly 90% from its peak, triggering a global economic collapse. Unemployment soared to 25%, and countless businesses went bankrupt.
Although pension funds rarely invested in equities at the time, the crisis still hit them indirectly: many employers went bankrupt and were unable to meet their pension commitments, leading to pension payments being interrupted or reduced.
This raised public doubts about the ability of employers and governments to manage pensions, prompting federal intervention. In 1935, the Social Security Act established a national pension system, but both private and public pensions remained locally dominated.
Regulators have stressed that pensions should avoid “gambling” assets such as shares.
……
The turning point began: The slow economic recovery after the crisis and the decline in bond yields (partly due to federal tax expansion) sowed the seeds for subsequent changes. It became clear that yields were insufficient to cover the promised returns.
3/6 · Investment Shifts and Controversies in the Post-Great Depression EraAfter the Great Depression, and particularly during and after World War II (1940s-1950s), pension fund investment strategies began to slowly evolve, shifting from conservative bonds to equity assets, including stocks. This shift was not smooth and was accompanied by intense controversy.
Despite the postwar economic recovery, the municipal bond market stagnated, with yields falling to as low as 1.2%, failing to meet guaranteed pension returns. Public pensions faced pressure to pay deficits, increasing the burden on taxpayers.
At the same time, private trust funds began to adopt the Prudent Man Rule, a rule originating in 19th-century trust law but reinterpreted in the 1940s to allow them to diversify their investments in pursuit of higher returns, as long as the overall approach was “prudent.” This rule initially applied to private trusts but gradually began to affect public pension funds.
In 1950, New York State was the first to partially adopt the prudent man rule, allowing pension funds to invest up to 35% in equity assets (such as stocks). This marked a shift from a “legal list” to flexible investment. Other states followed suit, such as North Carolina, which authorized investments in corporate bonds in 1957 and permitted a 10% stock allocation in 1961, increasing it to 15% in 1964.
This change sparked considerable controversy. Opponents (primarily actuaries and labor unions) argued that stock investments would repeat the 1929 stock market crash and expose retirement funds to market volatility. The media and politicians called it “gambling with workers’ hard-earned money,” fearing a collapse of pension funds during an economic downturn.
To mitigate the controversy, investment proportions were strictly limited (initially no more than 10-20%), with a preference for blue-chip stocks. Later, benefiting from the postwar bull market, the controversy gradually faded, demonstrating its potential for returns.
4/6 · Subsequent development and institutionalizationBy 1960, over 40% of public pension funds were held in non-government securities. New York State’s municipal bond holdings fell from 32.3% in 1955 to 1.7% in 1966. This shift reduced the burden on taxpayers but also made pension funds more dependent on the market.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was enacted in 1974, applying prudent investor standards to public pensions. Despite initial controversy, stock investments were eventually accepted, but some problems were exposed. For example, the heavy losses suffered by pension funds in the 2008 crisis reignited similar debates.
5/6 · Signal releaseThe current debate surrounding the introduction of crypto assets into 401(k)s closely resembles the controversy surrounding the introduction of stocks, both involving a shift from conservative investments to higher-risk assets. Crypto assets are clearly less mature and more volatile at this point, which could be seen as a more radical form of pension reform, sending a number of signals.
The promotion, supervision, and education of crypto assets will all be taken to the next level to help people accept and increase their risk awareness of these emerging assets.
From a market perspective, stocks included in pension plans benefited from the long bull market in the US stock market. Crypto assets must also move out of a stable upward market to replicate this trend. At the same time, since 401(k) funds are essentially locked up,
Purchasing crypto assets with pension funds is equivalent to “hoarding coins” and is equivalent to another “strategic reserve of crypto assets.”
No matter from which level you interpret it, this is a huge benefit for Crypto.
The following is supplementary information, professionals can skip it
6/6 · Appendix – The meaning and specific operation mechanism of 401(k)A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, first introduced in 1978. It allows employees to contribute pre-tax (or after-tax, depending on the plan) wages to an individual retirement account for long-term savings and investments.
401(k) is a “defined contribution plan”. Unlike traditional “defined benefit plans”, its core is that employees and employers make joint contributions, and investment gains or losses are borne by employees personally.
6.1 ContributionsEmployees can have a percentage of their paycheck deducted from their 401(k) contributions and deposit them into their accounts. Employers can also offer a matching contribution, which adds a percentage of the employee’s contributions. The matching amount depends on the employer’s policy and is optional.
6.2 InvestmentA 401(k) isn’t a single fund, but rather an individual account controlled by the employee, where funds can be invested in a menu of options pre-selected by the employer. Common options include S&P 500 index funds, bond funds, and hybrid funds. The 2025 executive order allows for the inclusion of private equity, real estate, and crypto assets.
Employees select their portfolio from a menu or accept the default. Employers only provide options and are not responsible for the specific investments.
Income Vesting: Investment income belongs entirely to the employee and does not need to be shared with the employer or others. Risk-taking: If the market falls, the losses are borne by the employees themselves, and there is no guarantee mechanism. Оригинальная ссылка Эта статья взята из интернета: Looking back at history: What lessons can we learn from introducing crypto assets into 401(k) pension plans?Recommended Articles Related: The Fed remains on hold, the market is calm, but on-chain data reveals unusual signals Original author: BitpushNews On Wednesday afternoon (June 18th) local time, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) announced that it would maintain the benchmark interest rate at 4.25%-4.50%. This is the fourth consecutive meeting at which the Fed has remained on hold, which is in line with general market expectations. The Fed said in a statement that although uncertainty about the economic outlook has eased, it is still at a high level. At the same time, the Fed lowered its forecast for US GDP growth in 2025 to 1.4%, but raised its inflation forecast to 3%. This shows that the Fed is still facing a dilemma between economic recovery and inflation control. Expectations for rate cuts have also been adjusted: The Fed’s “dot plot” shows that while two rate cuts (50 basis… Анализ ## crypto# defiРынок #© Copyright NoticeМассив Pre Tether Becomes the World's 18th Largest Holder of US Treasury Bonds: A Complete Analysis of Stablecoins' Money-Making Te Next RWA Weekly Report | Galaxy Plans to Issue Tokenized Stock GLXY; Ripple to Acquire Stablecoin Platform Rail for $200 Mill Related articles ГорячаяВы получили электронную подарочную карту, на которую можно претендовать Bee Intern 453 682 255 Hyperliquid ecosystem is booming: Hypurr, a pump platform that allows users to quickly access content 6086cf14eb90bc67ca4fc62b 43 783 2 MicroStrategy STRD preferred shares debut: Ponzi scheme under the temptation of high interest rates 6086cf14eb90bc67ca4fc62b 28 330 1 Sign up for the Deribit x SignalPlus Trading Competition and win 300,000 USDC, Tesla and Rolex 6086cf14eb90bc67ca4fc62b 31 447 2 2026 Web3 Consumer Market Outlook: Which Products Achieve Long-Term Retention? 6086cf14eb90bc67ca4fc62b 10 350 A complete guide to the three giants of mouth-sucking Kaito, Cookie, and Galxe 6086cf14eb90bc67ca4fc62b 35 747 1 1 комментарий Вы должны войти в систему, чтобы оставить комментарий! Немедленно войдите в систему муран Гость 好好干 6 месяцев назад Bee.com Крупнейший в мире портал Web3. Партнеры CoinCarp Binance CoinMarketCap CoinGecko Coinlive Доспехи Загрузите приложение Bee Network APP и начните путешествие по web3 Белая книга Роли ЧАСТО ЗАДАВАЕМЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ © 2021-2026. Все права защищены. Политика конфиденциальности | Условия предоставления услуг Скачать приложение Bee Network APP и начните путешествие по web3 Крупнейший в мире портал Web3 Партнеры CoinCarp Binance CoinMarketCap CoinGecko Coinlive Armors Белая книга Роли ЧАСТО ЗАДАВАЕМЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ © 2021-2026. Все права защищены. Политика конфиденциальности | Условия предоставления услуг Поиск ПоискInSiteOnChainСоциальнаяНовости Hot to you: Охотники за воздухом Анализ данных Криптознаменитости Детектор-ловушка Русский English 繁體中文 简体中文 日本語 Tiếng Việt العربية 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia हिन्दी اردو Русский智能索引记录
-
2026-03-02 12:16:09
教育培训
成功
标题:【必备】我的妈妈英语作文汇总八篇
简介:在日常生活或是工作学习中,大家都不可避免地要接触到作文吧,作文是由文字组成,经过人的思想考虑,通过语言组织来表达一个主题
-
2026-03-02 12:12:29
综合导航
成功
标题:Whois сервис 🔎 Проверить домен на занятость в любой зоне (com, net, online), информация о домене, проверка сайта, IP lookup (whois ip service) Рег.ру
简介:Сервис Whois позволяет узнать информацию о домене, свободен
-
2026-03-02 12:25:43
教育培训
成功
标题:春节英语作文优选(10篇)
简介:无论在学习、工作或是生活中,大家一定都接触过作文吧,作文是通过文字来表达一个主题意义的记叙方法。作文的注意事项有许多,你
-
2026-03-02 06:33:48
综合导航
成功
标题:1,3-二氯丙烯 - 山东地六化学有限公司
简介:在农药领域有多种应用,主要包括作为土壤熏蒸剂、土壤杀虫剂以及新型杀虫剂的原料等12。此外,1,3-二氯丙烯还可以作为
-
2026-03-02 14:16:17
图片素材
成功
标题:温暖的作文50字 描写温暖的作文 关于温暖的作文-作文网
简介:作文网精选关于温暖的50字作文,包含温暖的作文素材,关于温暖的作文题目,以温暖为话题的50字作文大全,作文网原创名师点评
-
2026-03-02 06:29:43
综合导航
成功
标题:Flap Bee - Play The Free Mobile Game Online
简介:Flap Bee - click to play online. Flap Bee is an interesting
-
2026-03-02 13:06:50
电商商城
成功
标题:京东自营夏鞋子男怎么样 - 京东
简介:京东是专业的京东自营夏鞋子男网上购物商城,为您提供京东自营夏鞋子男价格图片信息、京东自营夏鞋子男怎么样的用户评论、京东自
-
2026-03-02 12:23:38
新闻资讯
成功
标题:【四川新农村住宅设计图家居】_别墅设计网
简介:四川新农村住宅设计图家居:为您提供最好的四川新农村住宅设计图相关资讯及内容!了解四川新农村住宅设计图怎么样知识,尽在别墅
-
2026-03-02 06:31:49
综合导航
成功
标题:Oncology - 3FX Medical Animations Digital Solutions
简介:HER2, Anti-HER2 therapy, timeline, explainer, motion graphic
-
2026-03-02 14:05:14
教育培训
成功
标题:秋天的公园作文【通用15篇】
简介:在日常学习、工作和生活中,大家对作文都不陌生吧,作文是人们把记忆中所存储的有关知识、经验和思想用书面形式表达出来的记叙方
-
2026-03-02 06:32:02
综合导航
成功
标题:Alnwick Garden - Sir Robert McAlpine
简介:Our civil engineering and construction capabilities transfor
-
2026-03-02 13:59:46
图片素材
成功
标题:捅马蜂窝的作文250字 描写捅马蜂窝的作文 关于捅马蜂窝的作文-作文网
简介:作文网精选关于捅马蜂窝的250字作文,包含捅马蜂窝的作文素材,关于捅马蜂窝的作文题目,以捅马蜂窝为话题的250字作文大全
-
2026-03-02 13:54:31
综合导航
成功
标题:WTB: 91-92 turbo transmission [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board
简介:Hi, I
-
2026-03-02 12:49:22
综合导航
成功
标题:专家点评_作文网
简介:作文网专家点评提供大量精选小学生、初中生、高中生,作文及专家点评,包含各种文体作文及专家点评精选,欢迎投稿发表您的作文。
-
2026-03-02 13:09:50
视频影音
成功
标题:逆袭从签到神级姐姐开始第12集河马短剧_在线播放[高清流畅]_爽文短剧
简介:爽文短剧_逆袭从签到神级姐姐开始剧情介绍:逆袭从签到神级姐姐开始是由内详执导,内详等人主演的,于2025年上映,该都市讲
-
2026-03-02 09:46:24
游戏娱乐
成功
标题:收集篇:伦敦-财富(1)_ 刺客信条英灵殿攻略_全支线任务全收集攻略_图文全攻略_3DM单机
简介:《刺客信条:英灵殿》图文全攻略,全支线任务全收集攻略(含“通关剧情流程”“全支线任务/全结局”“全收集攻略”)。《刺客信
-
2026-03-02 12:41:31
教育培训
成功
标题:特别的的礼物作文【热门】
简介:无论在学习、工作或是生活中,大家总免不了要接触或使用作文吧,借助作文人们可以实现文化交流的目的。写起作文来就毫无头绪?下
-
2026-03-02 12:22:55
实用工具
成功
标题:企业特殊技术人才基本情况表-果果圈模板
简介:企业特殊技术人才基本情况表,用于记录企业内部特殊技术人才基本信息情况,统计企业人才数量,模板实用可靠,欢迎大家下载。果果
-
2026-03-02 12:52:11
综合导航
成功
标题:DMCA - NS6.com
简介:请仔细阅读我们的 DMCA 政策。
-
2026-03-02 12:26:56
综合导航
成功
标题:母亲_高一写人作文
简介:无论是在学校还是在社会中,大家或多或少都会接触过作文吧,借助作文可以宣泄心中的情感,调节自己的心情。还是对作文一筹莫展吗
-
2026-03-02 12:40:02
旅游出行
成功
标题:攻略主角的100种方法最新章节_攻略主角的100种方法全文免费阅读_恋上你看书网
简介:一朝身死,江迟砚为了复活,成为了一名攻略者,任务是阻止主角黑化入魔,毁灭世界。于是,他穿越成了修真界中平平无的普通人。好
-
2026-03-02 12:39:37
游戏娱乐
成功
标题:麻麻食物店,麻麻食物店小游戏,4399小游戏 www.4399.com
简介:麻麻食物店在线玩,麻麻食物店下载, 麻麻食物店攻略秘籍.更多麻麻食物店游戏尽在4399小游戏,好玩记得告诉你的朋友哦!
-
2026-03-02 14:01:29
综合导航
成功
标题:四年级奶奶的爱作文汇总5篇
简介:在日常学习、工作和生活中,大家都经常看到作文的身影吧,作文是一种言语活动,具有高度的综合性和创造性。那要怎么写好作文呢?
-
2026-03-02 12:34:52
游戏娱乐
成功
标题:wow显卡驱动过期怎么搞,魔兽世界显卡驱动要更新吗?-驱动人生
简介:在玩魔兽世界(World of Warcraft,简称WoW)这款经典游戏时,有时会遇到显卡驱动过期的问题。过期的显卡驱
-
2026-03-02 08:42:20
综合导航
成功
标题:The Block Research Predicts: IPOs Will Outperform Token Launches, Forecasting Markets to Launch Their Own Chains Bee Network
简介:Author|jk As the new year begins, the renowned crypto resear
-
2026-03-02 06:32:44
教育培训
成功
标题:【热门】那一缕春风作文600字
简介:在日常学习、工作抑或是生活中,大家都有写作文的经历,对作文很是熟悉吧,作文是人们把记忆中所存储的有关知识、经验和思想用书
-
2026-03-02 12:51:34
图片素材
成功
标题:国土的作文1500字 描写国土的作文 关于国土的作文-作文网
简介:作文网精选关于国土的1500字作文,包含国土的作文素材,关于国土的作文题目,以国土为话题的1500字作文大全,作文网原创
-
2026-03-02 13:09:09
综合导航
成功
标题:EIGEN unlocking wave: market value diluted by 10% per month, smart money withdraws early Bee Network
简介:Original translation: TechFlow On October 10th, the entire
-
2026-03-02 12:46:41
教育培训
成功
标题:夏日即景作文(优选)
简介:在日常生活或是工作学习中,大家都不可避免地要接触到作文吧,作文是人们以书面形式表情达意的言语活动。相信很多朋友都对写作文
-
2026-03-02 09:48:40
教育培训
成功
标题:岳飞的故事作文400字
简介:在日常生活或是工作学习中,许多人都有过写作文的经历,对作文都不陌生吧,借助作文可以提高我们的语言组织能力。相信许多人会觉