Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong praises SEC’s proposal for private market access

For decades, the velvet rope around private markets has had one bouncer: your bank balance. The SEC now wants to hire a second one who checks your knowledge instead. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is a fan. On October 11, 2026, he publicly backed the agency’s plan to open accredited investor status to more Americans, arguing that retail investors have missed out on private markets for far too long. What the SEC is proposing On September 30, 2026, the US Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a significant overhaul of the rules that decide who counts as an accredited investor. That label matters because it is the ticket into private deals, the early-stage rounds that happen long before a company ever lists on an exchange. Right now, qualifying mostly comes down to money. You need a net worth of $1 million, excluding your primary residence, or income of $200,000 individually ($300,000 jointly) over the past two years. The new proposals would add pathways that have nothing to do with how rich you are. Holders of professional credentials such as the CPA, CFA, and CFP, along with certain FINRA licenses, could qualify under the plan. There is also a do-it-yourself option. The SEC has ...