A proposed U.S. Department of Labor rule could allow smaller-market-cap cryptocurrencies to be included in U.S. 401(k) retirement plans, but experts expect them to face more hurdles than Bitcoin and Ether. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs said Thursday that the rule had entered the White House’s final review stage. The proposal does not list eligible digital assets or set a minimum market capitalization, but that does not guarantee that any cryptocurrency will be included. Teresa Goody Guillén, managing partner at Bellementis PLLC, expects ETFs and managed funds to emerge before direct cryptocurrency holdings. Bernardo Brittes, co-founder and CEO of Trace Finance, expects some cryptocurrency investment options could appear in 2027, but warned that litigation and policy could reverse or delay their adoption.