Qualified Investor Criteria

Definition ∞ Qualified investor criteria are specific requirements that an individual or entity must meet to be considered eligible to invest in certain complex or high-risk financial products. These criteria typically relate to income levels, net worth, or professional experience. They are designed to protect less experienced investors from unsuitable investments.
Context ∞ In the digital asset sector, qualified investor criteria are often applied to limit access to certain crypto investment products, such as venture capital funds for blockchain startups or highly speculative tokens. Regulators employ these criteria to segment the market and ensure that participants possess the financial sophistication to assess inherent risks. Debates persist regarding the appropriateness of these thresholds for rapidly evolving digital asset offerings.