Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Crypto prices tank after CLARITY Act fails and ahead of Fed decision

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Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Crypto prices tank <a href="https://xpertsstudio.com/lawyer-reveals-key-reason-xrp-sank-after-clarity-act-vote/" title="Lawyer reveals key reason XRP sank after CLARITY Act vote”>after CLARITY Act fails and ahead of Fed decision

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $75,586.51 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 3.3% lower than Tuesday’s opening price. As of 7:12 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved higher to $75,885.53.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,397.64 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, down 4.6% from Tuesday’s opening price. The price of ethereum moved up this morning to $2,404.43 as of 7:12 a.m. ET.

Both bitcoin and ethereum prices are down significantly this morning compared to the same time yesterday, following the failure of the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate and ahead of the expectation that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later today.

If the Fed does raise rates, it will be the first time in three years.

Brian Sozzi, Executive Editor at Yahoo Finance, wrote more about the CLARITY Act’s failure this morning:

The Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act failed its procedural Senate vote on Tuesday, falling short of the required 60 votes.

“Govt feels broken. 18 months of work between our industry, Democrats, and Republicans, and Clarity falls apart on the 5-yard line,” Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz — worth an estimated $5.8 billion — said in a new X post.

Added Novogratz, “All the issues got to a hard-fought compromise except one. On Ethics, both sides dug in and decided their stance was more important than the long-run good of a major industry and our country’s chance to lead it. Republicans were afraid of putting real limits on a President’s ability to profit from digital assets. Dems decided that this one industry is where they would fight a corruption battle. They were scared to be seen doing anything that could be perceived as being soft on the President.”

Senate Democrats blocked the advancement of CLARITY over lingering concerns regarding government ethics provisions and presidential conflicts of interest. President Trump and his family have long been a key player in crypto with their various investments.

Keep reading:Crypto billionaire on Clarity Act dying: Government feels broken

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin this morning, Wednesday, September 16, 2026,was 3.3% lower than Tuesday’s opening price. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

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, Wednesday, September 16, 2026, was 4.6% lower than Tuesday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

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:

1. How long you held the asset before selling

2. 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)

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75,984.57-911.02(-1.18%)
As of 11:32:16 AM UTC. Market Open.

(ETH-USD)

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2,411.49-63.77(-2.58%)
As of 11:32:16 AM UTC. Market Open.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team: 

Clarity Act cloture vote fails: What it means for your crypto holdings

Senators vote to block the Clarity Act from moving forward, setting back efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the crypto industry.

How to navigate a crypto meltdown: ‘Be willing to hold on’

Financial advisors are reversing course on cryptocurrencies as an investment. So what happens when the next crypto crash occurs?

Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Understanding the key differences

Compare Ethereum and Bitcoin. Learn the key differences between BTC and ETH, from origins and supply to consensus mechanisms and real-world use cases.

What is Ethereum? A complete guide to the Ethereum blockchain.

What is Ethereum? Here’s your beginner-friendly guide to the blockchain, smart contracts, DeFi, and how ETH differs from Bitcoin. Learn the basics before you invest.

Is bitcoin’s price volatility an investing opportunity? How to buy bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s price has swung sharply in recent months. Here’s how to buy and store bitcoin as safely as possible.

How to invest in cryptocurrency: A beginner’s guide

Before you place your first trade, it’s important to understand what cryptocurrency is and how it works. Learn how to invest in crypto in 3 steps.

Source: finance.yahoo.com