Accredited Investor

Under US securities law, an "accredited investor" is a natural person or entity that meets certain financial thresholds — currently $200,000 in annual income (or $300,000 jointly with a spouse), OR a net worth exceeding $1M excluding primary residence, OR holding qualifying professional certifications (Series 7, 65, or 82). Most private securities offerings are limited to accredited investors to reduce regulatory filing requirements.

Accredited investor status is self-certified on most platforms — investors sign an attestation and may provide supporting documentation. It is not an SEC registration or approval; it is simply a threshold. Non-US investors apply different regimes depending on jurisdiction.

Illustrative example: an individual with $220,000 in W-2 income qualifies as accredited. A couple with combined income of $310,000 qualifies jointly. A person with a $1.2M investment portfolio (excluding their home value) qualifies by net worth. A licensed financial advisor with a Series 65 qualifies by certification regardless of income.

The gotcha: econ.markets binary contracts are structured differently from traditional pre-IPO share purchases. The accreditation requirement applies specifically to securities offerings under Reg D and similar exemptions. The regulatory treatment of binary contracts, prediction-market instruments, and other novel structures differs and is evolving. Participants should verify the specific regulatory framework applicable to any instrument they are considering.