Bitcoin Holds Near $64,000 as SEC Unveils New Crypto Fundraising Rules

Bitcoin traded steadily around the $64,000 mark on Wednesday as market participants digested significant new regulatory proposals from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and awaited further cues from the White House.

The leading cryptocurrency was trading at $64,169.4, down 0.2% as of 02:10 ET (06:10 GMT), according to Investing.com data, holding its ground amid a broader risk-off sentiment in financial markets driven by surging U.S. Treasury yields.

SEC Proposes New Framework for Crypto Offerings

The SEC on Tuesday introduced a proposal titled "Regulation Crypto Assets," designed to establish a specific regulatory framework for certain investment contracts involving digital assets. The new rules aim to provide clearer pathways for crypto firms to raise capital while adhering to federal securities laws.

According to the commission, the proposal includes two key exemptions from standard securities registration requirements:

• An exemption allowing eligible issuers to raise up to $5 million over a four-year period.
• A second exemption permitting offerings of up to $75 million within any 12-month period.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that the proposal seeks to give crypto entrepreneurs and market participants clear guidelines for capital formation. The plan also includes a "safe harbor" provision for issuers who have completed or ceased the managerial efforts promised under an investment contract.

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Markets Await White House and CFTC Meetings

Further weighing on market sentiment is the anticipation of high-level government discussions on digital assets. According to a Coindesk report, President Donald Trump is expected to attend a White House session on Wednesday with his administration's new innovation committee, which includes CEOs from crypto firms, prediction markets, and representatives from traditional finance.

A follow-up session is scheduled for the next day at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which oversees the committee. These meetings come after a major crypto regulatory overhaul bill, the Clarity Act, failed to pass in Congress, indicating that regulatory efforts are continuing through other channels.

Altcoin Prices Remain Mixed

Prices in the broader altcoin market were mixed, largely tracking Bitcoin's tight trading range. Ether (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 0.3% to $1,908.06. Other major tokens saw modest moves, with Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) gaining 0.9% and 1.2% respectively, while BNB fell 0.4%.