Qualified Institutional Buyer (QIB)
A US securities-law classification for large institutional investors, permitted to participate in certain private securities offerings unavailable to the general public.
A Qualified Institutional Buyer (QIB) is a specific US securities-law classification for large institutional investors meeting defined asset thresholds, permitted to participate in certain private securities offerings that aren't available to the general public or to individual accredited investors (see Kaavon's "Accredited Investor" glossary definition).
This classification is most relevant to crypto projects or funds structuring a private token or security offering specifically restricted to institutional participants, a different regulatory pathway from a public token sale.
Examples
- A private crypto fund offering restricted to Qualified Institutional Buyers is structured under a different regulatory pathway than a public token sale.
- QIB status requires meeting defined institutional asset thresholds, a materially higher bar than individual accredited investor status.