A new survey from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) found that 53% of U.S. respondents oppose allowing employers to include cryptocurrency in workplace retirement savings plans such as 401(k)s.
The poll also found that 77% classify cryptocurrency as a high-risk asset, and 46% place it in the "extremely high risk" category. The survey collected responses from 1,203 adults age 25 and older between Oct. 24 and Nov. 14, 2025.
Retirement concerns remain widespread
NIRS said 80% of Americans believe the country is in a serious retirement crisis, up from 67% in its 2020 survey. Another 61% said they are very concerned about not having enough financial security after retirement.
Among the factors driving that anxiety, 73% cited persistently high inflation and 62% pointed to sharp swings in financial markets. Another 76% said they worry government Social Security benefits could face cuts if Congress does not act in time. The survey also found that 68% believe preparing for retirement is becoming more difficult, with rising prices and stagnant wages identified as the main pressures.
NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan said Americans are dealing with mounting living costs, including housing, healthcare and debt repayment, which have squeezed their ability to save for retirement. He also said people are having to confront the changes and risks tied to emerging financial technologies such as cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.
AI finance tools show a generational split
The survey also looked at how AI is being used in personal finance. It found that 63% of respondents have used AI tools, but 61% have never used AI for core tasks such as personal finance management, investment allocation or retirement planning.
Another 45% said they are uncomfortable with AI directly providing financial advice. The survey said younger generations are noticeably more open to AI-based financial tools than older groups.
Even so, respondents showed interest in using AI for budgeting, cited by 38%, investment assistance at 34%, retirement preparation at 32% and tax planning at 24%. The findings suggest consumers are more willing to use AI as a financial aide than to fully hand over investment decisions.
Fight over crypto in 401(k) plans continues in Washington
Before the survey was released, the question of whether U.S. 401(k) retirement plans should open up to alternative assets had already become a political issue.
Maxine Waters, a Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, previously sent a letter to Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling urging the department to withdraw a proposal that would allow 401(k) accounts to invest in alternative assets including cryptocurrency, private equity and commodities.
According to the source material, the proposal was drafted under an executive order from Donald Trump and was intended to create a legal safe harbor for retirement plan managers that include crypto assets. In her letter, Waters criticized the policy, saying it would strip away investor protections long available to retirement savers and encourage high-risk, high-cost speculation.
Sonderling responded publicly that the proposal already requires plan managers to assess investments through a prudent review process and does not relax the department's position.
More recently, Democratic figures including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren also joined objections to the move, showing that the dispute over whether retirement plans should include crypto remains active in U.S. politics.