Do You Need to Be Accredited to Invest in RWAs?
Do You Need to Be Accredited to Invest in RWAs?
Do you need to be an accredited investor to invest in RWAs? Not always. Here is what accredited means, which deals require it, and how to invest if you aren't.
Do you need to be an accredited investor to invest in RWAs? Not always. Here is what accredited means, which deals require it, and how to invest if you aren't.
No - you do not always need to be accredited to invest in RWAs, but some deals require it and others do not. Whether a specific offering is open to you depends on the exemption the issuer used to sell it. Private placements under Reg D 506(c) are limited to accredited investors; offerings registered for the public, or sold under retail-friendly frameworks, are open to everyone. So the real question is not "am I accredited" but "which deals am I eligible for."
What "accredited investor" means
In the US, an accredited investor is someone who meets income or net-worth thresholds the SEC sets - broadly, over $200,000 in annual income (or $300,000 with a spouse) for the last two years, or more than $1 million in net worth excluding your home. Certain professional licenses also qualify. The idea is that these investors can bear the risk of less-regulated, less-liquid private offerings.
It is a status, not a product. You do not apply to the SEC; you demonstrate that you meet the bar when a deal requires it.
Which RWA deals require it
The rule follows the exemption, not the asset class.
| Offering | Who can invest | |
|---|---|---|
| Reg D 506(c) | Accredited only, verified | |
| Reg A+ | Open to all, with limits | |
| Public registered | Open to all | |
| Large institutional | Qualified purchasers |
Deals sold under Regulation D 506(c) - a large share of private real estate, credit, and fund tokenizations - are accredited-only, and the issuer must verify your status. Offerings under public-facing frameworks like Regulation A+ are open to non-accredited investors, often with per-investor limits. A few very large or institutional deals go further and require you to be a qualified purchaser, a higher bar than accredited.
How accreditation gets verified
For a 506(c) deal, you cannot simply check a box. The issuer must take reasonable steps to confirm you qualify - this is accreditation verification, usually done by reviewing tax documents, bank or brokerage statements, or a letter from your accountant or attorney. Many platforms use a third-party service to handle it, so you upload documents once and reuse the confirmation across deals.
What to do if you're not accredited
Plenty. The accessible RWA market is growing precisely because tokenization suits retail-friendly structures. Look for offerings explicitly open to all investors - many tokenized real estate and Treasury products qualify - and respect any per-investor caps that come with them. Being non-accredited narrows your menu; it does not lock you out. And if you cross the thresholds later, the accredited-only side of the market opens up.
Where to go next
- Next: Reg S - investing as a non-US person.
- The legal basis: why these are securities.
- Glossary: accredited investor.
Sources: U.S. SEC (sec.gov); rwa.xyz, as of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can non-accredited investors buy RWAs?
Yes, many RWAs are open to everyone - especially those sold under public-facing frameworks like Regulation A+ or registered offerings, often with per-investor limits. Only deals under exemptions like Reg D 506(c) are restricted to accredited investors.
How do I prove I'm an accredited investor?
For a 506(c) deal the issuer must verify it - typically by reviewing tax returns, bank or brokerage statements, or a letter from your accountant or attorney. Many platforms use a third-party verification service so you submit documents once.
What are the accredited investor thresholds?
Broadly, over $200,000 in annual income ($300,000 with a spouse) for the past two years, or more than $1 million in net worth excluding your primary home. Certain professional licenses also qualify. These are US SEC definitions and can change.
Educational content, not financial or legal advice. Tokenized assets carry risk; do your own research and consult a professional before investing.
Written by
Igor BuryiCo-founder, Capital Strategy · Co-founder & Capital Strategy, Unicorn Invest
Experienced real-estate investor and venture builder with over a decade of successful entrepreneurship. PropTech co-founder, now bringing US real-estate development on-chain.
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Accredited Investor
Glossary definition
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