Trump Moves to Allow Crypto in US Retirement Plans

Trump Moves to Allow Crypto, Gold, and Private Equity in US Retirement Plans

Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would allow 401k retirement plans—currently limited mostly to public stocks and bonds—to invest in alternative assets such as cryptocurrencies, gold, private equity, and infrastructure funds. The move aims to broaden access to these asset classes for everyday American savers and reduce regulatory barriers. It follows the administration’s rollback of Biden-era restrictions on crypto in retirement accounts and signals growing support for digital assets, with Trump crediting the crypto industry for helping him win the 2024 election. Major private capital firms like Blackstone, Apollo, and BlackRock are expected to benefit significantly, as they’ve already begun forming partnerships to offer private investments through retirement plans. While the initiative could inject hundreds of billions into private markets, it also raises concerns over higher fees, less transparency, and reduced liquidity for savers.

BlackRock Seeks Approval to Add Staking to Its Spot Ethereum ETF

BlackRock has filed a request with the SEC to add staking functionality to its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), potentially allowing the fund to earn yield by validating transactions on the Ethereum network. The proposal, submitted by Nasdaq, would amend ETHA’s rules to permit staking rewards as income. Other issuers including Fidelity, Grayscale, and 21Shares have submitted similar requests, with SEC decisions expected later this year. While staking could enhance returns, critics warn of possible security and manipulation risks. ETHA has seen over $7 billion in inflows, making it the top-performing Ethereum ETF to date.

Bit Origin Raises $500 Million to Build Dogecoin Treasury as Shares Surge 90%

Bitcoin mining firm Bit Origin is pivoting toward digital asset holdings, raising $500 million to acquire Dogecoin (DOGE) as it builds a crypto treasury. The company will raise up to $400 million through stock sales and $100 million in convertible debt. Chairman Jinghai Jiang described DOGE as a fast, scalable asset with strong payments utility and community support. Bit Origin is also betting on Dogecoin’s potential role in Elon Musk’s X Money ecosystem. Shares of Bit Origin jumped 90% on the news, while DOGE rose 2% to $0.21. This move follows similar treasury strategies by other publicly traded firms betting on meme coin momentum.

Australian Tattoo Artist Aims to Break World Record With 700 Pump.fun Tattoos Livestreamed on Solana Platform

Australian tattoo artist Zachary Gollan, known online as Donnie Darko, is attempting to break the world record for most tattoos of the same name—inking “Pump.fun” on himself live via the Solana-based meme coin platform. Already at 415 tattoos, he plans to reach 700 during a Saturday livestream. The 27-year-old aims to transition from his current job as a removalist to a full-time livestreamer and tattoo content creator, using Pump.fun’s revenue-sharing model. His project, PUMPINK, briefly reached a $412,000 market cap but has since dropped over 70%. Gollan, who has a criminal past tied to an outlaw biker club, says tattooing helped turn his life around. Future record attempts include most hashtags or cartoon characters tattooed on the body, all broadcast live to promote his crypto-linked tattoo business.