Bitcoin tops $84,000 after SEC tokenisation exemption lifts crypto markets
Bitcoin rose 4.9% to $84,371.90 by 05:30 ET Monday, extending its weekly gain to about 5% following the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s announcement of a five-year exemption for tokenised equities on blockchain…
Source: Yahoo Finance UK · InvestorDaily · September 22, 2026 at 8:02 AM · AI-assisted report
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BEIJING, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Bitcoin rose 4.9% to $84,371.90 by 05:30 ET Monday, extending its weekly gain to about 5% following the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s announcement of a five-year exemption for tokenised equities on blockchain platforms.
Market Impact
The SEC’s conditional relief, granted Thursday, permits qualifying trading venues to facilitate transactions in tokenised US stocks through blockchain-based systems while maintaining investor protections. According to the agency, the exemption aims to balance financial innovation with regulatory safeguards.
The rally followed a period of volatility, including Bitcoin’s drop below $76,000 after the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate hike last week. Lower oil prices—Brent crude fell 2% to below $102 per barrel—and signs of progress in US-China trade talks contributed to improved risk sentiment across financial markets.
The broader digital asset market rallied alongside Bitcoin. Ethereum climbed 5.8% to $2,728.92, while XRP advanced 7% to $1.48, according to CoinGecko data. Smaller-cap altcoins also surged: Solana rose 7.3%, Cardano gained 8.7%, and BNB increased 4.5%. Zcash, which operates on a privacy-focused blockchain, climbed 3% to above $1,500, while NEAR jumped 23% as activity on its cross-chain swap service spiked.
Cryptocurrency-related equities also responded strongly. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) rose 12%, Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) advanced 16%, and Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) gained 9% on Friday, according to Yahoo Finance data.
The SEC’s exemption does not remove broader regulatory requirements for tokenised securities, but it signals growing institutional interest in blockchain-based trading. The decision comes as the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance remains a key headwind, with higher Treasury yields and potential further rate hikes weighing on risk assets.
Further price movements will depend on regulatory developments, monetary policy cues, and trading demand. The cryptocurrency market’s recovery has coincided with gains in Asian stock markets and US equity futures, driven by positive signals from US-China trade negotiations. However, the sector remains vulnerable to shifts in Fed policy and broader macroeconomic trends.
For Malaysian investors, the development carries limited direct impact. While Bank Negara Malaysia has maintained a cautious stance on cryptocurrencies, the SEC’s move could influence global regulatory discussions and accelerate adoption in traditional finance. Local fintech and blockchain players may monitor how institutional markets respond to tokenisation, though direct exposure remains constrained by regulatory restrictions.
The outlook for Bitcoin and altcoins hinges on whether the SEC’s exemption sparks broader institutional adoption or if regulatory uncertainties persist. If the Fed signals a pause in rate hikes, crypto prices could extend their recovery. Conversely, any indication of further tightening or market stress could reverse recent gains. Traders will watch for additional regulatory signals from the SEC and developments in US-China trade talks.