Americans Reject Crypto in Retirement Plans as 77% Call It Risky

Retirement is looking less like a golden age and more like a financial headache for millions of Americans.

A new survey from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) found that 80% of Americans believe the US is facing a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020. More than six in ten also worry they won’t be financially secure when they stop working.

And the squeeze isn’t just about markets. Inflation is the biggest concern, cited by 73% of respondents, while 62% point to market volatility. Debt is another big drag, with 77% saying it gets in the way of saving enough for retirement.

That’s a grim backdrop for anyone trying to build a nest egg.

AI Gets a Cautious Thumbs-Up

Americans aren’t exactly handing their retirement accounts over to robots either.

Although 63% have used an AI tool, 61% haven’t used AI for questions about investments, finances or retirement. Nearly half are uncomfortable with AI providing financial advice.

Still, there’s interest in using it for more practical jobs. Budgeting was the most popular potential use, followed by investing and retirement planning. So people seem happy for AI to help with the maths – just don’t let it make the big calls yet.

Crypto gets an even colder reception. A majority, 53%, oppose employers offering cryptocurrency through workplace retirement plans. Overall, 77% view crypto in these plans as risky, including 46% who consider it very risky.

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The Retirement Maths Isn’t Pretty

There’s also a sizeable knowledge gap around retirement savings. Nearly half of respondents have less than US$100,000 (AU$139,231) saved, while 18% have nothing put away at all. More than half didn’t start saving until they were at least 30.

Perhaps more revealing: only 9% correctly estimated the annual income that US$100,000 in retirement savings might generate using a commonly used withdrawal guideline.

Workers are also placing more value on retirement benefits when choosing jobs. Three-quarters say they’re a very or extremely important factor, while 41% say they’ve become more important over the past year.

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Pensions remain particularly popular, too. Seventy-six per cent view them favourably, and 69% believe pensions do more than plans such as 401(k)s to provide retirement security.

The survey covered 1,203 Americans aged 25 and over, with interviews conducted between 24 October and 14 November 2025. For crypto, the message is pretty clear: retirement savers have enough uncertainty already. Adding Bitcoin to the mix isn’t winning many fans just yet.