Deep Tide TechFlow News, March 31 — According to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Labor released a proposal on March 30 to allow 401(k) retirement plans to include alternative assets such as private equity and cryptocurrencies, aiming to break long-standing investment barriers. The proposal requires trustees to conduct strict reviews of asset performance, fees, liquidity, and other factors; those who comply will receive legal protection. Private equity giants like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo are expected to leverage this to open new sources of capital, with related stock prices rising in response to the announcement. Treasury Secretary Bissent stated that this move is a preliminary step to "protect retirement assets." The proposal will open a 60-day public comment period. Critics, such as Senator Warren, warn that this could expose retirement savings to high-risk assets.