A key detail revealed as part of the SEC's settlement with the cryptocurrency platform eToro has suggested a drastic shift in the agency's perspective on Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH).

What Happened: According to a press release on Thursday, the SEC found that the U.S. arm of the Israel-based multi-asset company's operations violated federal securities laws by allowing the trading of cryptocurrencies as securities.

The company consented to pay $1.5 million in penalties and agreed to scale back its cryptocurrency operations in the country. A significant aspect of the settlement was the directive to halt the trade of all other cryptocurrencies except Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Bitcoin Cash (CRYPTO: BCH), and Ethereum.

While Bitcoin and its offshoots were considered commodities, the SEC, under the leadership of Gary Gensler, had been unclear on whether Ethereum should be classified as a security.

Why It Matters: The settlement, coupled with the approval for Ethereum exchange-traded funds in July, indicated an end to years-long ambiguity on the matter.

Notably in June, blockchain software company ConsenSys announced that the SEC has closed its investigation into Ethereum's security question.

In a parallel development, SEC Chair Gensler, known for his critical stance on the cryptocurrency industry, was under investigation by Republican lawmakers for allegedly engaging in political favoritism during the SEC's hiring process.

Price Action: At the time of writing, Ether was exchanging hands at $2,350.22, down 0.58% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Photo via Shutterstock.

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