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Home » Bitcoin » SEC Twitter account hacked, false Bitcoin ETF approval tweet sends prices swinging

SEC Twitter account hacked, false Bitcoin ETF approval tweet sends prices swinging

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The SEC promises to fully investigate the hack alongside law enforcement.

SEC Twitter account hacked, false Bitcoin ETF approval tweet sends prices swinging

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The price of Bitcoin experienced wild swings today after the official Twitter account of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was hacked and a fraudulent tweet was posted at 4:11PM EST on Tuesday, announcing approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).

15 minutes later, SEC chair Gary Gensler issued a statement warning that the agency’s account had been compromised, resulting in an “unauthorized tweet,” and denying any approvals had been granted, sending Bitcoin’s price tumbling after the initial surge.

Bitcoin’s price spiked from around $46,600 to $47,680 following the fake SEC tweet, marking what appeared to be a two-year price high for the leading cryptocurrency, according to data from CoinGecko. However, Bitcoin’s price plunged nearly $45,500 after Gensler quickly confirmed that regulators “have not approved the listing and trading of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products.”

Charles Gasparino Senior Correspondent at FOX Business Network tweeted:

While the SEC is expected to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs this Wednesday, with the first Bitcoin ETF potentially starting trading as soon as Thursday according to some analysts, Tuesday’s fake tweet and rapid market reaction demonstrated the SEC’s outsized influence and Bitcoin’s continued price sensitivity.

Crypto markets remain largely unregulated, contributing to extreme volatility. But regulators wield significant power through signals around support or opposition. According to CoinGecko, bitcoin’s price remains up 8% over the past two weeks and 166% over the past year even following today’s movements.

Rumors and speculation related to Bitcoin ETF approvals have whipsawed crypto prices before. But coming from an official government Twitter account, traders reacted instantly to buy Bitcoin at higher prices, showcasing vulnerabilities where regulatory decisions and announcements meet new digital asset trading dynamics.

The hacking incident and its market impact did not go unnoticed in Washington. Prominent political figures have voiced their concerns and called for a thorough investigation.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, a US Senator from Wyoming, expressed concerns about market manipulation resulting from such fraudulent announcements.

Similarly, Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee stressed the need for accountability, drawing parallels with the standards expected of public companies.

Additionally, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Chairman of the House Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, questioned the broader implications of the SEC’s actions in his tweet:

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