According to Odaily, outgoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler has urged the next administration to uphold protections for small traders. In a recent interview, Gensler cautioned that reducing disclosure requirements or broadening the definition of "accredited investors" could jeopardize public interests.

Critics of current SEC rules argue that while they shield retail traders from private investment risks, they also limit growth opportunities. Notably, "Project 2025," a policy roadmap for the incoming Trump administration, proposes easing or eliminating these restrictions.

Gensler stressed the importance of maintaining robust disclosure standards to preserve investor confidence and ensure market stability. He emphasized that investors must be equipped with full, fair, and truthful information to evaluate risks effectively. While public companies are required to disclose extensively, private firms, including startups, enjoy significant exemptions.

Under current regulations, individuals qualify as accredited investors if they meet specific financial criteria, such as a net worth exceeding $1 million (excluding their primary residence). When introduced in the 1980s, this definition applied to about 1% of the U.S. population. By 2022, the SEC estimated that over 18% of U.S. households met this threshold.

Key lawmakers, including House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, advocate for expanding this definition. Hill's 2023 proposal would allow individuals with demonstrated financial expertise to access private markets. Proponents of the change argue that current restrictions disproportionately hinder wealth accumulation in minority communities, including Black and Latino households.

In December, President-elect Trump named former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins as the incoming agency leader. Atkins, known for opposing excessive corporate disclosure requirements, has argued that such regulations limit investment opportunities and stifle economic growth.

This ongoing debate reflects the delicate balance between safeguarding retail investors and promoting broader access to private markets.

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