Traditional Finance Takes Another Step Forward: Crypto Assets Officially Integrated into U.S. Retirement Investment System

On March 12, 2026, VanEck and Basic Capital announced the inclusion of Bitcoin ETF (HODL) and Ethereum ETF (ETHV) in U.S. 401(k) retirement plans, marking crypto assets' official entry into mainstream retirement investment systems. This collaboration addresses compliance issues through ETF product structures, enabling investors to gain indirect exposure to digital assets through regulated securities. The move received indirect approval from the U.S. Department of Labor, enhancing regulatory acceptance of crypto assets and is expected to encourage more institutions to follow suit. For investors, 401(k) accounts provide tax advantages while enabling digital asset allocation. If 1% of 401(k) assets redirect to crypto ETFs, it could generate over $30 billion in incremental capital. As traditional financial institutions accelerate their deployment, crypto assets are gradually becoming standard allocation components in global investment portfolios and are expected to become an important part of capital markets over the next decade.