Bitcoin and several smaller digital coins experienced significant price declines on Saturday as the cryptocurrency market reacted to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) regulatory crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges.
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, saw a notable drop to $25,501, approaching its lowest levels since March which were recorded earlier in the week.
At present, the Bitcoin price is down 3.2% compared to 24 hours earlier, trading at approximately $25,613. Meanwhile, smaller tokens, including Solana, Cardano, and Dogecoin, plummeted to levels not seen since 2003 or worse.
The SEC’s actions began on Monday with the filing of 13 charges against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its co-founder Changpeng Zhao.
The charges allege securities violations and operating illegally in the United States.
Following this, on Tuesday, the SEC turned its attention to Coinbase, a major U.S. cryptocurrency platform, accusing it of operating as an unregistered securities exchange.
The regulatory crackdown by the SEC has created a sense of uncertainty and unease within the cryptocurrency market, leading to the sell-off of digital assets such as Bitcoin and various smaller tokens.
Market participants are closely monitoring the situation and its potential impact on the future of cryptocurrency exchanges and the broader crypto industry.