Crypto Market Volatility Ahead of Shapella Upgrade and SEC Reassurance

Bitcoin fell below $30,000, while Ether traded just over $1,860, leading the drop among major tokens. Liquid staking tokens, including Lido's IDO governance tokens and Rocket Pool's RPL, also slumped. Traders likely took profits ahead of the U.S. Consumer Price Index for March and the much-awaited Shapella upgrade for the Ethereum network. The upgrade will allow investors to withdraw their ether staked on the Ethereum blockchain, which could prove bullish for ether as staking becomes more accessible to users.