[U.S. SEC Proposes Lowering Private Investment Thresholds to Encourage Retail Participation in Private Markets] BlockBeats News, October 1 — On Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a series of reform measures aimed at expanding channels for individual investors to participate in private markets, allowing more retail investors access to private equity, early-stage startups, and other alternative assets. One of the proposals would permit registered investment advisors to charge up to 20% performance fees based on fund performance, aligning the fee structure more closely with the '2% management fee + 20% performance fee' model used by some hedge funds, in order to attract more private fund managers to serve individual investors. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that the Commission seeks to explore ways to broaden individual investor participation in private markets while safeguarding against fraud and misconduct. The SEC also proposed expanding the definition of 'qualified investor,' allowing more professionals with certifications (including Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Financial Analysts) to meet investment eligibility criteria.