What does it mean to be an accredited investor?
Under the federal securities laws, only people who are accredited investors may participate in certain securities offerings. These offerings are limited to accredited investors to ensure that participating investors are financially proficient and able to withstand a significant loss of funds. People who qualify as accredited investors are not considered to need the protections provided by registered securities. For more information about the risks involved, see our Risk Disclosure. You should always make sure you understand and can afford to take the risk involved, before making any financial decision.
Do I qualify as an accredited investor?
There is no official process through which someone can register, apply, or certify to become an accredited investor. While services like VerifyInvestor.com are not officially endorsed by the SEC, they do employ certified public accountants and attorneys to confirm your qualifications as an accredited investor. This gives companies like Celsius the confidence that you are legally qualified to purchase their offering. You may also submit confirmations issued by your choice of accountant or attorney.
If you meet any of the following qualifications, you meet the criteria of an accredited investor. This list is not comprehensive but includes the most commonly used qualifications.
- Income-Based: A person who has an annual income exceeding $200,000 (or $300,000 for annual joint income) for the last two years, with the expectation of earning the same or a higher income in the current year. An individual must have earned income above the thresholds, either alone or with a spouse, over the last two years. This income test can’t be satisfied by showing one year of an individual's income and the next two years of joint income with a spouse.
- Net Worth Based: A person who has a net worth exceeding $1 million, either individually or jointly with their spouse. This net worth amount cannot include the value of the person's primary residence.
- License Based: A person who holds certain certificates, designations, or credentials, such as Series 7, Series 65, and Series 82 licenses.
Please note that such qualifications may be changed in the future and are not determined by Celsius.
What advantages do accredited investors have with Celsius?
Dedicated Support
Knowledgeable Customer Support to assist through the accreditation process.
They also get access to white-glove service through our OTC desk.
Flexible Earning
After you share your status as an accredited investor with us, you’ll unlock access to the Celsius Earn product where you can choose to Earn in-kind or in-CEL rewards. US Accredited investors (and non-US users) can transfer coins into their Earn account to earn compounding crypto rewards.
When you earn rewards in the same coin you are holding with Celsius, you are earning “in-kind”. You’ll also be able to earn some or all of your rewards in CEL instead. By choosing to Earn in-CEL, you’ll get access to higher earn rates.
By confirming your accredited investor status with us, you will get access to both options!
Please note: The CEL tokens you receive through weekly rewards will be locked for one year. Even while locked, they’ll continue to earn their own rewards. After one year, the CEL tokens you receive via in-CEL rewards will be unlocked and transferable.
Full Benefits of CEL Loyalty Program
Accredited investors can also benefit from our CEL Loyalty Level program; if 25% or more of your Celsius portfolio is CEL token, or you hold 25,000 or more CEL token, your Earn in-CEL rates are boosted by up to 30% over our standard, in-kind rates. Your Loyalty Level also improves the rates you can receive on loans with Celsius.
How can accredited investors confirm their status with Celsius?
If you are US-based and want to confirm your status as an accredited investor with Celsius, you must submit proof that you qualify as an accredited investor. Here’s how:
- Head to the profile section of the Celsius web or personal info of the mobile application and open the accredited investor portal.
- Upload your documents of proof that verify you meet the criteria of an accredited investor. You can provide a valid License certificate, or obtain certification through VerifyInvestor.com, an attorney, or a CPA. Please note that such qualifications may be changed in the future and are not determined by Celsius.
- Make sure that the documents you’ve provided us with the same residential and email address associated with your Celsius account.
- Submit your documents. Celsius will confirm your accredited investor status upon review.
You can also check out the video below in which the steps to confirming your accredited investor status are detailed.
I am a confirmed accredited investor. How do I begin to Earn in CEL?
For those with balances in their Earn account, confirmed US accredited investors can choose to earn weekly rewards in CEL on some or all your coins. Here’s how:
- Open the Celsius app on your web or mobile device.
- Head to the Earn account and click ‘Rewards’.
- Select the specific coin(s) that you want to start earning in-CEL rewards on, or select all to earn in-CEL rewards for all coins in your Earn account.
- Accept the terms and start earning boosted weekly rewards in CEL.
My CEL rewards are locked for one year? What does that mean?
For those with balances in their Earn account, confirmed US accredited investors who have chosen to earn weekly rewards in CEL on some or all your coins, the CEL tokens you receive through your weekly in-CEL rewards will be locked for one year, meaning you can not transfer, swap, or withdraw those CEL tokens until the one-year lock period is over. They will not be eligible to be used as loan collateral during the one-year period but they will continue to earn weekly rewards.
The only exception is the CEL rewards you earn in-kind on the CEL tokens you hold. Those are not subject to the one-year lock period.
Why do I need to be an accredited investor to Earn in CEL?
Celsius does not consider CEL token to be a security under applicable laws but, due to regulatory uncertainty, we are taking precautionary action and treating CEL tokens as though they might be viewed as a security by U.S. financial authorities in the future.
For this reason, some of the services offered by Celsius are only available to confirmed accredited investors. The ability to earn rewards in CEL is one example of a service we restrict.
How often do I need to renew my accredited investor status?
Accredited Investor proof documents can be used to confirm your Accredited Investor status on Celsius up to 90 days after they are issued. If you try to submit them after 90 days have passed, they will no longer be valid and we will require new proof documents.
Whether you submit your proof documents to Celsius the day they are issued or twelve weeks later, your Accredited Investor status within Celsius will be valid for one year from the date the proof documents were issued*.
Note: Your Accredited Investor status with Celsius does not need to be renewed every 90 days – it only needs to be renewed once a year. Each year, when you get new proof documents, you'll have a period of 90 days to submit them.
* Subject to Celsius’ Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure. The timeline is subject to change at Celsius’s sole discretion.
How do I renew my accredited investor status?
- Head to the profile section of the Celsius web or personal info of the mobile application and open the accredited investor portal.
- Upload the documents of proof that verify you meet the criteria of an accredited investor. You can provide a valid License certificate, or obtain a certification through VerifyInvestor.com, an attorney or a CPA. Please note that such qualifications may be changed in the future and are not determined by Celsius.
- Make sure that the documents you provided use the same residential and email address associated with your Celsius account.
- Submit your documents. Celsius will confirm the renewal of your accredited investor status upon review.