Many countries have this asset requirement -New Zeeland, for example, Canada. It's nothing new or extra-ordinary. It's sort of insurance against draining the state in the event one were to become non-productive.
This seems pretty different from the Canadian asset requirement [1]. The Canadian asset requirement is meant to ensure that new (skilled worker) immigrants can support themselves (and it's on the order of $10 000. The immigrant keeps this money and can spend it however he likes.
Canada does have something similar to this visa though[2], but the investment is managed by the government.
This asset requirement is not for shopping at the mall and making sure you don't starve. It is to invest. This money has to be spent on investment and creating jobs in US.
