Woofun AI reports that a profound disconnect has emerged between public sentiment and regulatory direction, with The National Institute on Retirement Security finding that 77% of Americans consider crypto in workplace retirement plans risky.

The data underscores a deepening anxiety: 46% classify the risk as 'very risky,' while 53% oppose employers offering crypto as an investment option. This skepticism is compounded by a broader crisis narrative, as 80% of respondents believe the US faces a retirement crisis, a significant rise from 67% in 2020.

Furthermore, 61% express concern about achieving financial security, with 68% stating it is becoming harder to prepare for retirement and 77% citing debt as a barrier to adequate saving.

Greenwald Research conducted the survey between Oct. 24 and Nov. 14, 2025, polling 1,203 Americans aged 25 and older, with results weighted by age, gender and income. Despite these findings, the Trump administration and federal regulators have moved to broaden access to alternative assets in retirement accounts, bringing crypto and other nontraditional investments further into the retirement savings debate.

Structurally, the US Department of Labor rescinded guidance in May 2025 that had urged 401(k) plan fiduciaries to exercise 'extreme care' when considering cryptocurrency investments, returning instead to a neutral approach that neither endorses nor discourages crypto in retirement plan investment menus. On Aug. 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to alternative assets in defined-contribution retirement plans, including investment vehicles that hold digital assets, while directing the Labor Department and US Securities and Exchange Commission to consider regulatory changes to facilitate access.

Per Woofun AI, the Labor Department subsequently rescinded 2021 guidance that had discouraged 401(k) fiduciaries from considering alternative assets, stating investment decisions should instead be evaluated under a neutral, principles-based approach. More recently, in March 2026, the Labor Department proposed rules outlining how 401(k) fiduciaries could include alternative assets in investment lineups, including safe harbors intended to reduce litigation risks while requiring consideration of factors such as fees, liquidity, valuation and performance.

The proposal has faced pushback from lawmakers, with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Bobby Scott urging the Labor Department in June to withdraw it, citing crypto's volatility and what they described as insufficient investor safeguards.