The recent decline in Bitcoin’s price has prompted us to take a step back and examine the broader crypto landscape. In this article, we will analyze the performance of tokens listed in the Coinbase and Binance lawsuits, which are currently being defended in U.S. courts. The central issue in these lawsuits is whether the crypto assets offered by these exchanges should be classified as securities and fall under SEC regulation. We will explore how these assets have performed compared to Bitcoin over the past 8 months and highlight some standout tokens in terms of performance.
Since the bankruptcy filing and subsequent collapse of FTX, a major event preceding the lawsuits, Bitcoin has surged by approximately 140% against the dollar. However, when we look at its performance against the listed tokens, only two assets outperformed it. Solana and ICP saw increases in their price in BTC terms, rising by 116% and 9% respectively. On the other hand, all other tokens listed as potential securities experienced declines against Bitcoin, ranging from -41% to -80%. The best performer among them was Cardano, which saw a 41% decrease in value against Bitcoin, while the worst performer was Chilliz, declining by a staggering -80%.
While the listed tokens struggled to keep up with Bitcoin’s performance, they were no match for its strength against the dollar. Cardano, which lost value against Bitcoin, managed to gain 50% in dollar terms, highlighting Bitcoin’s dominance over the past 15 months. On the other hand, Chilliz experienced a significant decrease of -53% in dollar terms. These fluctuations demonstrate the importance of considering Bitcoin’s performance when assessing the overall market.
When Binance and Coinbase were hit with SEC lawsuits last June, the market faced significant volatility. Bitcoin’s price fell to $25,300 from around $26,800 when Binance was served, but it quickly regained its value. However, when Coinbase was served, it experienced a gradual decline to around $25,000. On June 20, 2023, BlackRock filed its application for a Bitcoin ETF, which briefly elevated Bitcoin’s price to over $30,000. However, a subsequent stock market sell-off in August reversed these gains, and Bitcoin traded sideways until Grayscale’s victory in court against the SEC. This victory propelled Bitcoin’s price to its eventual 2-year high of $49,000 on the day the spot Bitcoin ETFs launched.
As of now, Bitcoin has retraced somewhat from its peak, but it is still up 47% since the lawsuits were filed. However, three assets have outperformed Bitcoin during this period. Solana and ICP achieved remarkable gains of 169% and 49% respectively, and Near Protocol also saw an 8% increase against Bitcoin. Conversely, all other tokens listed in the lawsuits experienced declines against Bitcoin, with Dash being the worst performer, declining by -56%. Cardano was the least affected, with a decrease of -15% against Bitcoin. Notably, in terms of dollar performance, Solana, ICP, and Near Protocol have seen exceptional gains of 286%, 265%, and 145% respectively over the same timeframe. Even Dash, the biggest loser against Bitcoin, managed to gain 4% when priced in dollars, while Cardano recorded an 87% increase.
While the focus of the industry has largely been on ETFs this year, the lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase have significant implications for the entire cryptocurrency industry. The SEC’s argument against Binance revolves around the classification of its BUSD stablecoin and BNB token as securities. Coinbase has also contested the relevance of the Howey test for cryptocurrencies. The outcomes of these cases could fundamentally alter how digital tokens are handled and regulated in the U.S. and set precedents for the future regulation of digital assets. A victory for the SEC in either case could have far-reaching consequences.
The performance of tokens listed in the Coinbase and Binance lawsuits showcases the dominance of Bitcoin in the market. While Bitcoin has delivered impressive gains against both the listed tokens and the dollar, only a few assets managed to outperform it. The lawsuits and their outcomes have significant implications for the cryptocurrency industry, potentially reshaping how digital assets are regulated and handled in the U.S. As the cases progress, market participants will be closely watching for any further developments that could impact the tokens mentioned in the lawsuits.
