BitcoinBTC, ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies have been grappling this year with a U.S. crypto crackdown that some think could "destroy all value of bitcoin."

The bitcoin price has climbed over the first few months of 2023 but remains far from its late 2021 all-time highs, with traders hailing a "new market regime." The fate of ethereum and other cryptocurrencies are meanwhile hanging in the balance as U.S regulatory agencies battle for control of the market.

Now, a leaked memo circulated to Democrat House financial services committee members has revealed the "key messages" lawmakers were told to stick to that could see almost all cryptocurrencies categorized as securities.

The document, passed to committee members by the Democratic party ahead of Wednesday’s joint House hearing on crypto policy, was leaked by Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett on Twitter. "The problem isn’t ambiguity—it’s mass non-compliance with existing laws," the memo reads. "We can't invent new accommodating regulatory structures simply because crypto companies refuse to follow clear rules of the road."

The memo calls on Democrat lawmakers to push back on Republican claims "they are working to provide clarity to the markets by carving out space for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in crypto" ... "Republicans are proving that they really aren't serious about protecting investors and consumers."

Bitcoin, ethereum and cryptocurrencies have become a partisan issue over the last year, with high-profile Republicans such as Ted Cruz giving their backing to crypto while influential former Democrat presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren embracing the idea she's "building an anti-crypto army."

U.S. president Joe Biden issued an executive order last year directing federal agencies to investigate how to respond to the bitcoin, ethereum and crypto boom.

Under chair Gary Gensler, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has claimed authority over the crypto market and suggested it views all cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin as unregistered securities.

"Both the SEC and CFTC are aligned on the fact that the SEC is the regulator to determine if crypto assets are securities, and the SEC has made clear that nearly all crypto assets are securities," the memo read, adding: "End of story."

Here's the leak: https://twitter.com/EleanorTerrett/status/1656362002577772544

None of this seems terribly new tbh. SEC has been consistent afaict. Republicans have maybe diverged from the SEC's position I guess.

Democrats call everyone else what they really are….. Fascists