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Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Crypto prices rise after SEC announces proposed regulation
Catherine Brock · Contributing writer
Wed, August 19, 2026 at 7:17 PM GMT+3 3 min read
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $64,681.22 on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 0.3% higher than Tuesday's opening price. As of 9:25 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved up to $64,877.66.
Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $1,916.47 on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, up 0.2% from Tuesday's opening price. The price of ethereum moved higher this morning to $1,936.31 as of 9:24 a.m. ET.
Bitcoin and ethereum prices opened higher and rose in early trading after the SEC announced new regulation for crypto assets.
The proposed rules provide a framework for crypto companies to raise capital. They define two registration requirement exemptions for crypto-related investment contracts. Issuers would still be required to make certain disclosures. Larger offerings would have to provide financial statements and meet ongoing reporting requirements. The rules also allow certain crypto assets to exit securities classification, and the related reporting requirements, after a project fulfills core managerial commitments. This would benefit mature crypto networks like bitcoin and ethereum.
Current price of bitcoin and ethereum
Bitcoin
The price of bitcoin this morning was 0.3% higher than Tuesday's opening price. Here's a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:
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One week ago: +1.8%
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One month ago: -0.2%
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One year ago: -44.4%
The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.
Ethereum
The price of ethereum this morning was 0.2% higher than Tuesday's open. Here's a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:
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One week ago: +1.9%
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One month ago: +3%
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One year ago: -55.6%
The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.
Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here.
Crypto and taxes
You generally owe taxes when you sell cryptocurrency for more than you paid for it. This also applies when you exchange one digital asset for another. Converting bitcoin into ethereum, for example, isn't "just a trade" in the eyes of the IRS. It's a taxable event if the value changes.
Crypto taxes aren't paid at the time of the transaction, but instead, they're reported on your tax return for the year in which the transaction took place. So, if you sold crypto for a profit at any point during 2025, that activity is reported when you file your 2025 return in early 2026.
How much tax you pay depends on two main factors:
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How long you held the asset before selling
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Your overall taxable income and filing status
Hold it for less than a year, and you'll usually face higher rates. Hold it longer, and the rates tend to be lower.
This holding-period distinction matters more than most people realize. A few days can make a difference of as much as 17% or more — so timing matters.
Learn more: Yes, crypto is taxed. Here's when you have to pay.
Bitcoin and ethereum price charts
Whether you're brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance's price-of-bitcoin and price-of-ethereum charts below show a visual history of how the currencies' value continues to move and evolve.
(BTC-USD )
68,809.31 +4,014.12 (+6.20%)
As of 4:31:32 PM UTC. Market Open.
(ETH-USD )
2,098.93 +181.54 (+9.47%)
As of 4:31:28 PM UTC. Market Open.
More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team:
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