For decades, private equity remained an exclusive domain—accessible only to institutions and ultra-wealthy individuals. But a profound shift is now underway. Thanks to breakthrough platforms and forward-leaning regulatory changes, retail investors are finally getting a seat at the private equity table.

Tale of Two Markets: Europe vs. the U.S.

Europe has adopted a more progressive stance toward retail access to private markets through structures such as:

• ELTIFs (European Long-Term Investment Funds)
• UCITS-compliant alternatives
• Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) open to non-professional investors

These vehicles enable retail participation in traditionally illiquid and institutional-only assets—ranging from infrastructure to venture capital—while offering a level of investor protection and regulatory oversight suitable for mass-market adoption.

By contrast, the United States has historically restricted access to private markets via accredited investor rules and strict limitations on retail access to private funds. While recent SEC actions have begun loosening these boundaries—such as removing the 15% cap on private investments in closed-end funds—the U.S. remains behind in offering retail-friendly access to alternative assets at scale.

Europe’s Lead: ELTIF 2.0 and Retail Inclusion

The most significant leap forward in Europe came with ELTIF 2.0, which went into effect in January 2024. The updated rules:

• Lowered investment minimums
• Relaxed diversification and redemption restrictions
• Broadened eligible asset classes to include SMEs, real assets, and even crypto/blockchain equity

Crucially, ELTIFs can be marketed to retail investors across the EU with a simplified disclosure regime, enabling cross-border fund distribution via passporting. Fund managers like Amundi, BlackRock, and Partners Group have already launched ELTIF products targeting mass-affluent and advised retail investors.

Results: According to the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), retail capital in ELTIFs grew from €7.5 billion in 2022 to €18.2 billion by Q1 2025, with over 70% of inflows coming from retail distribution channels.

The U.S. Catch-Up: A Work in Progress

Recent moves by the SEC indicate a desire to follow Europe’s lead. The May 2025 repeal of the 15% cap on private investments in closed-end retail funds and support for interval and evergreen fund growth suggest an evolving approach.

In addition:

• The SEC is considering an expansion of the accredited investor definition, making private offerings more broadly available.
• Discussions around retirement account inclusion for private funds (e.g., within IRAs and 401(k)s) are gaining traction.
• Platforms like Capital Engine® are actively working to develop compliant infrastructure for cross-border and U.S. retail access , with robust KYC, AML, and disclosure standards.

However, U.S. investors still face hurdles:

• Complex and overlapping regulations
• Limited access to diversified private market funds
• Few retail-friendly distribution platforms compared to Europe

Learning from Each Other

What the U.S. Can Learn from Europe:

• Unified fund structures like ELTIFs simplify retail participation
• Cross-border fund marketing expands reach and scale
• Flexible redemption features (even with illiquidity) help meet investor needs

What Europe Can Learn from the U.S.:

• Deeper secondary market infrastructure, such as platforms that enable fractionalization and liquidity events
• Advanced fintech innovation, as seen with Capital Engine®, Carta, and other private market enablers
• Robust investor education tools integrated into platforms

Looking Ahead

As retail investors continue to seek returns beyond the public markets, the pressure is on for policymakers and fund managers to develop efficient, scalable, and transparent access points. The global trend is clear: private markets are going public—but in a private way.

Platforms like Capital Engine® are well-positioned to support this transition by:

• Providing turnkey infrastructure for sponsors and funds
• Enabling digital onboarding, compliance, and investor management
• Facilitating secondary liquiditythrough integrated trading solutions

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