Bitcoin Falls Below $76K as SEC Delays Tokenized Stocks Plan

On May 22, 2026, Bitcoin dropped below $76,000 after the SEC paused its planned innovation exemption for tokenized U.S. stocks. The regulatory delay, prompted by pushback from traditional exchanges, triggered a broad risk-off selloff across crypto markets. Bitcoin declined roughly 2.3% to $75,800, wiping about $33.8 billion from its market value, while Ethereum fell 2.8-3.4% and Solana slipped 2.6%. Coinbase shares also tumbled 4.4% as investors reassessed prospects for tokenized equities. The move injected fresh uncertainty into tokenization initiatives and weighed on overall crypto sentiment.