The cryptocurrency market experienced a volatile session on May 13, 2026, as the total market capitalization fluctuated between $2.68 trillion and $2.71 trillion. After an initial 1.5% drop triggered by Bitcoin’s struggle to break past the $81,000 resistance, the market showed signs of recovery, with a slight 0.35% uptick bringing the value to $2.71 trillion. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index settled at 50, indicating neutral sentiment among traders.
Bitcoin hovered near $81,153.74, marking a marginal 0.04% decline, while its market dominance remained at 60.1%. Ethereum slipped 0.28% to $2,303.85, holding a 10.3% dominance. Over $278 million in liquidations were recorded across major exchanges during the day.
A critical regulatory development captured industry attention as the Senate prepared to vote on the CLARITY Act. If passed, the legislation would divide oversight responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC, potentially reshaping the U.S. crypto regulatory framework and affecting numerous digital assets.
In another significant move, Tesla officially stopped accepting Bitcoin payments, citing concerns over mining energy usage. This decision, following Elon Musk’s earlier statements, adds pressure to Bitcoin’s narrative as a sustainable payment method.
On a positive note for the XRP ecosystem, former Ripple CTO David Schwartz joined the XRP Ledger Foundation as an honorary board member, a move expected to bolster technical development and community growth.
Additionally, an anonymous Bitcoin whale executed a $50 billion transaction (10,000 BTC) after remaining dormant since July 2025, reviving discussions about large-scale accumulation. Meanwhile, the CFTC filed an amicus brief supporting prediction market Kalshi in its lawsuit against Ohio, challenging jurisdictional overreach. DeFi total value locked rose 0.28% to $86.56 billion, and NFT sales volume increased 15.03% to $7.46 million.
