Labor Department Proposes 401(k) Rule Allowing Private Equity and Crypto Investments; Blackstone, Apollo, Carlyle Shares Rise

By: Matthew Kerr, Quiver Data Analyst

Posted: an hour ago / March 30, 2026 3:09 p.m. UTC

The U.S. Department of Labor on March 30 proposed new rules to clarify how retirement plan trustees can include alternative assets such as private equity and cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans, following a prior executive order. The proposal aims to ease restrictions on less liquid investments in retirement accounts, opening potential access to new capital for firms like Blackstone Inc ($BX), Apollo Global Management ($APO), and Carlyle Group ($CG), whose shares rose after the announcement.

  • Department of Labor proposal seeks to clarify rules governing alternative assets in 401(k) plans
  • Assets include private equity, private credit, real estate funds, and cryptocurrencies
  • Follows executive order aimed at expanding access to alternative investments in retirement accounts
  • Rule could enable asset managers to access a large new pool of retirement capital
  • Industry participants raised concerns about liquidity constraints and withdrawal requirements
  • Financial advisors highlighted need for allocation limits and due diligence safeguards

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Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.

About the Author

Matthew Kerr is a data analyst at Quiver Quantitative, with a focus on single-stock research and government datasets. Prior to joining Quiver, Matthew was an analyst intern at BlackRock.