The year 2023 proved to be a rollercoaster journey for the crypto industry. A series of events transformed the space, influencing institutional investors. So, in the midst of the increase of Spot Bitcoin ETF applications and regulatory delays, there were changes. So, let’s look at the top 5 events that shaped and shook the foundations of the crypto in 2023.
Blackrock Spot Bitcoin ETF Unleashes Market Potential
- The initiation by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, to file for a Spot Bitcoin (ETF) set off ripples. So, their expectations of what next was about to happen across the market. Thus, this move, submitted to the (SEC) on June 15, 2023, shows a change in traditional investment. Also, following BlackRock’s lead, popular and notable followed suit. So, entities such as Grayscale, Ark Invest, WisdomTree, and VanEck represent similar intentions.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s Legal Crisis Shakes Up the Crypto World
- FTX’s creator, Sam Bankman-Fried, faced a major legal issue in 2023. Apparently, Sam was found guilty on seven charges like fraud and money laundering on November 2. So, this decision from the jury pointed out that he misused customer money and deceived lenders linked to Alameda Research. Thus, this could mean he might get a massive 115-year prison sentence. His sentencing is set for March 28, 2024, and it’s made people question the ethics and rules in the crypto industry.
CZ’s Unexpected Exit from Binance Sparks Confusion
- Changpeng Zhao’s sudden resignation from Binance on November 21, 2023, surprised everyone in the industry. So, He admitted to breaking US anti-money laundering laws. Furthermore, he stepped down as part of a $4.3 billion DOJ agreement. This caused a massive stir in the crypto industry. CZ being restricted in the US, could be possible flight risk due to his wealth. However, this occurrence led to more speculation about what he might do next in this legal mess.
Ripple’s Victory in XRP SEC Case: A Game-Changer for Crypto Investors
- In a notable event on July 13, 2023, Judge Analisa Torres ruled in favor of Ripple. This took place after a three year long legal battle with the SEC. So, this ruling marked XRP’s sales as not being security, giving a clear answer. As a result, XRP trading could restart on big exchanges that had removed it during the SEC lawsuit in 2020.
Grayscale and Coinbase Confront SEC’s Regulatory Stance
- Meanwhile, Grayscale had a win against the SEC on August 29, 2023. So, the Court told the SEC to reconsider rejecting Grayscale’s Spot Bitcoin ETF application. Also, Coinbase’s situation got more complicated in April 2023 when it sued the SEC, asking for clearer rules. So, in response, the SEC sued Coinbase for breaking securities laws. This legal back-and-forth between Coinbase and the SEC is still ongoing and hasn’t reached a conclusion yet.
Conclusion
Taking a look at the whole ride of crypto in 2023, it shows how strong and solid the industry is. Thus, every event made an impact on how people felt about the market, rules, and how confident investors were. So, while the industry deals with these tough situations, the story of the year tells us how important it is to act ethically. Furthermore, there’s a need for rules everyone follows in the industry, and keep improving the technology in the crypto space.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The article does not offer sufficient information to make investment decisions, nor does it constitute an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument. The content is opinion of the author and does not reflect any view or suggestion or any kind of advise from CryptoNewsBytes.com. The author declares he does not hold any of the above mentioned tokens or received any incentive from the company.
