Bitcoin surged past $81,000 following SEC approval for onchain trading of tokenized U.S. stocks, triggering a short squeeze that amplified weekend gains. NEAR Protocol also rallied 23%, driven by increased Zcash swap traffic, as crypto markets responded positively to the regulatory development. The broader risk-on sentiment was supported by Asian equities rising nearly 1% and Brent crude falling 2% to $101 per barrel, easing inflation concerns. BTSE COO Jeff Mei attributed Bitcoin's spike directly to the SEC clearance and expects continued volatility leading up to the Federal Reserve's late-October meeting, with upcoming Fed speeches and inflation data likely to shift market positioning.