March 2026

US. Indiana prepares to put bitcoin in its public retirement plans

Indiana lawmakers approved a bill allowing public retirement and savings plans to invest in digital assets and spot crypto ETFs, with Gov. Mike Braun expected to sign it soon. The move places Indiana among at least 21 states that are investing in or evaluating bitcoin and other digital assets for public funds, in line with the President of the US push to expand crypto holdings in the country. In a separate measure, Indiana legislators voted to ban crypto ATMs statewide after...

February 2026

U.S. public pension and trust fund investment in digital assets

As Bitcoin, regulated stablecoins, and crypto-linked equities have gained legitimacy in institutional finance through recent federal actions, a handful of public pension funds have begun taking limited exposure, and many more have been quietly exploring the possibility of entering the market. This report finds that Bitcoin’s growing institutional and monetary adoption, its fixed supply, and historical performance indicate that it can be a legitimate—though highly volatile—return and diversification instrument for public pensions. Fully backed and properly regulated stablecoins can be treated as...

January 2026

Colombian Pension Manager Plans Bitcoin Exposure Fund

AFP Protección, a private pension and severance fund manager in Colombia, is preparing to launch a fund with exposure to bitcoin. The plan was confirmed by company president Juan David Correa in an interview. How access will work Participation will be offered through a personalized advisory process. That process will assess an investor’s risk profile. Only clients who meet the criteria will be able to allocate a percentage of their portfolio to bitcoin. A second major pension firm to add bitcoin Protección’s move follows a similar...

December 2025

US. Major labor union warns new bill could put retirement savings at risk

The fight over how the U.S. should regulate digital assets escalated this week after one of the country’s largest labor unions warned Congress that a new crypto bill could put retirement savings at risk. At the same time, Wall Street is beginning to experiment with tokenized stocks, the very scenario unions say the legislation fails to control. Tokenized stocks are digital versions of real company shares that live on a blockchain but still represent the same ownership and rights as traditional...

October 2025

What’s making pension funds bet big on bitcoin?

Digital assets are no longer just a playground for early adopters — big institutions are now stepping in. From pension funds to multi-strategy hedge funds, investors are increasingly looking for crypto exposure. Yahoo Finance Future Focus caught up with Anatoly Crachilov, CEO of Nickel Digital, to find out which institutions are leading the charge and what’s driving their interest. Crachilov traced the evolution of crypto investors over Nickel Digital’s six-and-a-half-year history. Initially, demand came from family offices, but today, larger...

August 2025

US. Bitcoin 401(k)s thrill crypto investors but carry serious risks

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 7, allowing crypto in 401(k) retirement plans. The crypto industry has called the move a win for adoption, but investment professionals warn it comes with significant risk. The order “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors” directed US financial regulators to expand access to crypto and private companies in 401(k) plans. The 401(k) employee-sponsored investment scheme is one of the most popular retirement plans in the US. As of 2024,...

July 2025

US. Institutional investors warm to crypto but demand still nascent

Bitcoin's surge to a record this week has reignited questions about the role institutional investors are playing in pushing it higher, with analysts suggesting their role is still in its infancy. The world's largest cryptocurrency earlier this week surged to a record above $123,000, receiving a boost on the expectation of pro-crypto policies from Washington. While buzz around digital assets has increased, there is room for demand from institutional investors to grow as pension funds and other long-term buyers add bitcoin to...

When Uncertainties Matter: the Causal Effect of Cryptocurrency Investment on Retirement Hardship Withdrawals

By Zefeng Bai, Pengcheng Wang & hengwei zhang Cryptocurrencies are invested in by approximately 15% of U.S. households. However, the high volatility of these assets poses substantial financial risks, particularly as 40% of U.S. households already face potential retirement shortages. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the impact of cryptocurrency investment on retirement borrowing. Our causal analysis of 1,912 respondents revealed that cryptocurrency investors are 7.4% more likely to make a hardship withdrawal from their retirement accounts. This study provides...

April 2025

South Korea’s National Pension Service Eyes Blockchain for $890B Fund’s Transactions

South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS), which manages 1,224 trillion won ($836 billion) in assets, plans to look at how a blockchain could be used in its fund transaction systems. The organization is weighing a shift to blockchain technology to boost transparency and security in managing its deposits, withdrawals and investments, according to Seoul Economic Daily, which cited industry sources. The NPS plans to begin a preliminary disclosure process, inviting blockchain experts and companies to weigh in before formally launching the initiative, the news...

December 2024

US. Florida to invest $1.85B from pension fund in Bitcoin

Florida plans to invest $1.85 billion from its pension fund into Bitcoin to take the lead in using cryptocurrency, with support from state leaders and the Florida Blockchain Business Association. Florida is planning to invest $1.85 billion from its state pension fund into Bitcoin, aiming to lead in cryptocurrency adoption. Backed by the Florida Blockchain Business Association (FBBA) and pro-crypto leaders, this move could change how states use digital assets in their financial plans. Florida to invest $1.85 billion in Bitcoin Florida’s $185.7...