SEC Chair Paul Atkins on Wednesday opened the door to crypto in $12.5 trillion worth of 401(k) retirement accounts but simultaneously issued new guidance on the synthetic tokenized stock market, requiring issuer approval for legitimate equity tokens.

The 401(k) Crypto Green Light

Atkins told CNBC the “time is right” to allow crypto exposure in 401(k) plans, noting millions of Americans already hold digital assets through professionally managed pension funds.

The structure matters. In pension funds, professional managers decide which assets make it into portfolios. 

The SEC wants that same framework for 401(k)s—trustees and fund managers control what gets included, not individual…

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