Bitcoin's progress above $75,000 elusive after SEC, CFTC crypto guidance

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin's progress above $75,000 elusive after SEC, CFTC crypto guidance Bitcoin remains stuck near key resistance around $75,000, leaving the broader market in limbo. By Omkar Godbole | Edited by Sheldon Reback Mar 18, 2026, 9:29 a.m. Make us preferred on Google BTC continues to trade choppy. (Yashowardhan Singh/Unsplash) What to know : Bitcoin remains stuck near $75,000 ahead of a closely watched Federal Reserve interest-rate decision even after U.S. regulators clarified which crypto assets they consider to be securities. The U.S. securities and commodities regulators issued joint guidance that divides crypto tokens into five categories, aiming to clarify how federal laws apply to each. The new framework moves away from case-by-case enforcement, signaling that many tokens are not automatically securities and that most non-security assets will fall under lighter CFTC oversight. U.S. regulators' first joint guidance on applying securities laws to different types of crypto tokens failed to provide enough impetus to lift bitcoin BTC $ 74,150.25 , the largest, above $75,000. The interpretive guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which doesn't carry the weight of a formal rule, classified crypto tokens into five distinct categories: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins and digital securities, and removed a major source of market uncertainty. The stance marks a shift from the existing case-by-case enforcement, making it clear which tokens are considered securities and which are not, and is expected to give issuers and exchanges much‑needed clarity on how different assets will be regulated under federal law. "The practical effect is a more coherent and less burdensome regulatory environment. Legal uncertainty declines, the risk of retroactive enforcement is reduced, and compliance becomes more predictable," Tagus Capital said. "This supports institutional participation, exchange development, and product innovation, while improving market structure through lower compliance costs and better price discovery. Although the guidance stops short of binding law and still leaves room for case-by-case interpretation, it sets a strong template for future legislation and may accelerate global regulatory convergence." Even so, bitcoin was unable to build on this month's bounce from $65,000, which at one point on Tuesday, saw the price approach $76,000. The cryptocurrency was largely unchanged over the past 24 hours. Other major tokens such as XRP (XRP), ether (ETH) and solana (SOL) also saw choppy price action, with the CoinDesk 20 Index down 0.3%. According to analysts, $75,000 is a key resistance level for bitcoin. "On the upside, $75,400–$76,000 continues to act as resistance," Vikram Subburaj, CEO of India-based crypto exchange Giottus said in an email. "Bitcoin needs to hold above this range to signal stronger momentum." One possible reason for the restraint could be the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision due later Wednesday. The U.S. central bank is widely expected to hold rates unchanged in the 3.5% to 3.75% range. This leaves traders focused less on the decision and more on the interest‑rate projections in the wake of the Iran war‑related energy price shock. The rate decision, policy statement, and economic projections will hit the wires at 2 p.m. ET followed by Chairman Jerome Powell's press conference a half hour later. Bitcoin News Markets More For You Bitrefill accuses North Korea-linked Lazarus hacker group for compromising 18,500 purchase records By Omkar Godbole 2 hours ago Bitrefill will cover the losses from operational capital. What to know : Bitrefill said a March 1, 2026 cyberattack linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group compromised parts of its infrastructure, drained some hot wallets and exposed about 18,500 purchase records. The breach began with a compromised employee laptop that revealed legacy credentials, allowing attackers to access production keys, exploit gift card supply chains and move funds before the company took systems offline. Bitrefill will cover the losses from operational capital. 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