What are alternative assets?

Alternative assets are investments that aren't typically included in traditional investment portfolios. Alternative assets include real estate, cryptocurrencies, commodities, art, options, futures, forex, NFTs, peer-to-peer lending and venture capital. Alternative assets tend to be riskier than traditional assets.

Are alternative investments regulated?

These types of investments are typically illiquid—meaning they can’t be easily sold or converted into cash—and are often unregulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or other regulatory bodies. Alternative investments are also sometimes called alternative assets.

What are alternative investments?

Alternative investments are investment options outside of traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and cash. Alternative investments may include a wide range of assets such as real estate, commodities, private equity, hedge funds, art, collectibles, or cryptocurrencies.