President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order in the coming days that would expand investment options for U.S. retirement plans, particularly 401(k)s, by allowing access to private markets. This order aims to open the approximately $9 trillion U.S. retirement market to alternative assets including private equity, gold, and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The directive would instruct the U.S. Labor Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide guidance to employers on permitting these alternative investments in retirement savings plans. The move is expected to significantly broaden the investment landscape for retirement accounts, potentially benefiting major private equity firms like Blackstone and Apollo, and mainstreaming digital assets within retirement portfolios. The Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal have reported on the development, noting that the order could be signed as soon as this week. This policy shift represents a notable change from previous administrations' more cautious stance on including cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets in retirement plans.