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Following its continued price decline in 2026, reports confirmed that Bitcoin (BTC) had officially entered its cyclical bear market phase. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been trading sideways for months, with analysts predicting further volatility and price declines despite its recent drop below $65,000. Amid the downturn, market expert Crypto Patel has revealed the number of days left before Bitcoin officially reaches a price bottom. 

Bitcoin Bottom May Be 253 Days Away

On February 21, Crypto Patel announced that Bitcoin’s real bottom could still be roughly 253 days away. Sharing a multi-cycle BTC Bull/Bear market chart on X, the analyst based his outlook on the depth and duration of previous bear market cycles. 

Crypto Patel’s analysis begins with the historic 2018 BTC collapse. After peaking near $20,000 in late 2017, the price of Bitcoin fell 84.22% from its all-time high. The decline spanned 396 days, forming a long red zone on the chart, before the price finally stabilized and reversed near a rising macro trendline. 

A similar pattern also occurred in the 2022 market cycle. After reaching a $69,000 peak in 2021, Bitcoin dropped by roughly 77.57%. That downturn lasted 395 days, almost identical in length to the 2018 bear market. This reinforces the analyst’s view that timing plays a critical role in determining when Bitcoin hits a bottom and its cycle resets.

The analyst’s multi-cycle chart also shows that both bear markets ended near an upward-sloping support line that guided BTC’s long-term structure. In each case, the market was dominated by extreme fear and panic as BTC’s price declined to new lows. Crypto Patel has highlighted these moments on the chart, suggesting that negative sentiment tends to peak just as the market approaches exhaustion. 

BTC Projected To Crash 68% Before Recovering

Using the 84% and 77% crashes from 2018 and 2022 as reference points, Crypto Patel projects that Bitcoin’s current bear market could trigger a smaller but still significant correction. On the right side of the chart, the analyst shows that BTC has already reached a cycle top above $126,000.  

The cryptocurrency has since pulled back from that peak and is trading slightly above $63,000 at the time of writing. Crypto Patel predicts that BTC could see another 68% decline, potentially lasting close to 395 days, matching the duration of the previous cycles’ bear market phases. If this bearish scenario unfolds, Bitcoin could hit a final market bottom around $40,000 from its all-time high. 

Following this crash, Crypto Patel expects a price recovery before an explosive rally. He predicts that BTC could surge by approximately 609.96% from the bottom level to reach $303,758. The analyst has also identified the $38,000 level as a potential support or entry zone for investors.

The broader cryptocurrency market saw a sharp drop today, and the price of XRP took a big hit, falling to the $1.35 level. After a period of downside action, current on-chain activity is weakening, which is hinting at a continuation of the current bearish environment for the leading altcoin.

A Spike In XRP Whale Transfers

XRP’s price is facing heightened bearish pressure following a sharp market pullback on Monday, capping its upward attempts. In the meantime, the activity of large holders is once again drawing attention to the altcoin’s short-term price outlook. 

According to a verified CryptoQuant author and analyst, Darkfost, these investors’ activity currently raises short-term risk for the altcoin as data shows a noticeable uptick in whale transactions and sizable wallet movements. Significant capital repositioning by major holders frequently precedes times of increased volatility, particularly in a market already dealing with brittle sentiment.

Darkfost has mainly attributed the ongoing waning of investors’ performance to Bitcoin’s sideways price action. BTC continues to range, triggering limited directional clarity in the short term. This lack of momentum is putting pressure on the broader market, with altcoins like XRP persistently underperforming in the absence of a clear trend.

In addition, this week was notably marked by a significant inflow of the token to the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Since the market turned extremely bearish, the platform has remained the go-to exchange for large transactions due to its robust liquidity.

Looking at the data from the chart, more than 31 million XRP were seen being moved to the exchange in a single day, particularly on Sunday. Interestingly, these inflows were primarily spearheaded by activity from the largest investor group.

Wallet addresses holding less than 1,000 XRP and 1,000 to 10,000 holders sent 6,543 and 73,630 of the token, respectively, to Binance. 10,000 to 100,000 holders transferred 2,938,809, those holding between 100,000 and 1 million move 14,236,825, and those above 1 million sent 14,494,865 XRP to the Binance platform.

When taken as a whole, this indicates a sudden potential sell-side pressure of about $45 million that needs to be closely watched. Should this selling pressure persist, the expert believes that the altcoin may struggle to recover from its ongoing correction in the near term.

Spot ETFs Have Not Lost Their Momentum Yet

Even in a volatile environment, the XRP Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are still displaying momentum. Xaif Crypto, a market expert, shared on X that the newly launched funds are quietly stacking, suggesting underlying strength and confidence.

Over the past 3 months alone, Bitwise added more than $258.97 million of XRP, Franklin Templeton recorded over $329.86 million, and Canary Capital saw inflows of over $105.32 million. While the price seems uninteresting, hundreds of millions are pouring into the altcoin’s exposure. Currently, smart money is positioning early, and this activity could play a role in shaping the altcoin’s next price trajectory.

Operating within the Solana ecosystem, the platform had become a familiar tool for tracking DeFi activity before events took a sudden turn.

Step Finance’s sudden shutdown is a sharp example of how a single security failure can end a project’s life faster than many thought possible.

Reports say the team decided to stop all work after what it called an unrecoverable breach of treasury accounts. The move covers the main dashboard and several linked businesses, and token holders are left sorting out the fallout.

Security Breach Shuts Down Services

Based on reports, the treasury loss involved coins that had been unstaked and then moved off-platform. CertiK flagged that 261,854 SOL was taken during the incident, a sum worth roughly $27 million at the time.

That kind of hit is not the same as a user-level contract exploit; this was a direct blow to the group’s cash and reserves. The team explored options, including outside funding and potential sales, but did not find a deal that would keep operations running.

Today we are announcing that Step Finance, SolanaFloor, and Remora Markets will be winding down all operations.

Following the hack at the end of January we explored every possible path forward, including financing and acquisition opportunities.

Unfortunately, we were unable to…

— Step (@StepFinance_) February 23, 2026

Tokens And Teams Face Immediate Pain

The shutdown covers more than one product. Reports note that the closure extends to the analytics outlet and a lending arm that had been tied into the same corporate structure.

SolanaFloor and Remora Markets are among the units now listed as winding down. People who relied on those tools will need alternatives, and some work that tied into Solana dashboards will disappear overnight.

Today we are announcing that Remora Markets will be winding down operations, effective immediately.

All Remora rTokens remain fully backed 1:1, as they always have. We are currently working on a redemption process to allow holders to redeem their tokens for USDC, and will share…

— Remora Markets (@RemoraMarkets) February 23, 2026

Buybacks, Snapshots, And Liquidity Problems

There will be a token buyback based on a snapshot taken before the incident, the team says. Reports say holders of the native STEP token can expect a redemption plan, while Remora rToken owners will have a separate process.

Market reaction was brutal. STEP’s price fell steeply in the days after the breach and slumped further on the shutdown announcement. Liquidity that once existed around STEP has largely evaporated, making any recovery a steep climb.

Solana’s Ecosystem Loses Momentum

Reports note that overall DeFi activity on the Solana network has been shrinking since its last peak. DeFiLlama lists Total Value Locked as far lower than it was months ago. SOL itself has been weaker, trading at much lower levels than during high-flying market stretches.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Performance among meme coins has been abysmal over the past few months, and the likes of Shiba Inu have suffered especially during this time. Currently sitting at over 92% lower than its all-time high levels from 2021, all hope seems to be lost for the meme coins as more than 60% of all holders have plunged into losses. However, even amid this disturbing trend, expectations still remain that the Shiba Inu price could see a reversal and move upward again.

Shiba Inu Could Hit New All-Time Highs?

In an analysis shared earlier this month, crypto analyst Shib Spain highlights the possibility of the Shiba Inu price seeing a major price increase. This comes as the meme coin has entered what looks to be an accumulation phase, after coming out of a retracement period.

With the current downtrend, the analyst expects that the Shiba Inu price is setting up a bear trap, tricking traders into thinking the price will continue to fall and then doing the reverse. If this happens, then the analyst is expecting the meme coin’s price to rise 22x from the bottom of the bear trap, sitting around $0.0000045.

A 2,200% increase from here would put the price well above its all-time high of $0.00008, setting it on a course to new peaks. Shib Spain’s chart puts the top somewhere around $0.00018, essentially double its current peak levels.

SHIB Still On Track To Recover

In the shorter term, the CoinCodex algorithm has also predicted a possible increase in the Shiba Inu price. The 1-3 month predictions show a tendency for a reversal, although the scale of this reversal seems to be severely limited in how high it could go.

Even with the Shiba Inu Fear & Greed Index reading in the Extreme Fear territory, the algorithm predicts that Shiba Inu will see a 14.26% increase in the next three months, putting it well above $0.000007. Despite this, sentiment remains incredibly bearish, and volatility is still tethering on the high side at 8.89%, the website shows.

Ethereum’s price was rocked by the market drawdown on Monday, causing it to lose the $1,900 support level once again, which has triggered speculations about its near-term market outlook. Following the pullback, investors’ sentiment is shifting towards a more cautious state, keeping its market dynamics firmly bearish.

Bearish Momentum Persists in The Ethereum Market

Just as the broader cryptocurrency environment has flipped highly bearish, Ethereum market dynamics remain strongly tilted to the downside. Some of the indications of this scenario include signs of capitulation across the leading altcoin and network.

Joao Wedson, an author and the founder of on-chain data analytics platform Alphractal, has shed light on ETH’s current market state after examining multiple metrics. Key indications, such as realized/unrealized losses and declining demand metrics, point to an increasing number of investors pulling out of positions due to pressure.

Data from Alpha AI shows that there is an increase in long positions while the Coinbase Premium Index is demonstrating a decline. The increase in leveraged longs indicates that traders are wagering that recent weakness will give way to upward momentum and are setting up for a rebound.

At the same time, on-chain data is flashing signs of capitulation. Current flows indicate defensive behavior from investors and waning conviction rather than new accumulation. Wedson also underlined other key areas and metrics that reinforce this idea of bearish market dynamics for ETH.

The first metric is the Whale vs Retail Delta, which is now showing that the retail investors are positioning heavily on the long side. The Liquidation Level Heatmap is reflecting high leverage in the system. ETH’s Open Interest (OI) has been declining, with active addresses persistently vanishing. 

On-chain volume is flashing caution as active drops, and the NUPL is currently exhibiting capitulation signals. Given these bearish signals, Wedson highlighted that the next drop could spur the formation of a base with strong probability. This implies that Ethereum might start its accumulation phase in the short term.

A Move Back To Lower Bollinger Bands

In the current market state, Ethereum’s price appears to be moving in the same direction as Bitcoin’s price. According to market analyst and investor Cantonese Cat, both cryptocurrency assets just hit their lower Bollinger Bands as they contract as support. However, the direction has not yet been determined for the Bollinger Band squeeze.

As a result, Cantonese Cat noted that bulls may want more sideways to turn the 20-day SMA flatter, which would present a better chance to flip it as support. Meanwhile, the bears would be looking for more follow-through of the current price action and for a lower low occurring soon, but it has not yet happened.

At the time of writing, the ETH price was trading at $1,826 after dropping by over 3% in the last 24 hours. Despite the waning price action, its trading volume has turned bullish again, rising by more than 29% within the same period.

Institutional investors are improving exposure to smart contract platforms amid ongoing market volatility, with Cardano (ADA) increasingly becoming a central focus. Recent portfolio adjustments by major crypto asset managers suggest long-term positioning is gaining priority over short-term price movements.

Related Reading: Strategy Makes 100th Bitcoin Purchase, Total Holdings Reach 717,722 BTC

Digital asset manager Grayscale Investments has steadily increased its allocation to Cardano’s ADA token within its Smart Contract Fund, signaling growing institutional interest in the network’s evolving ecosystem and infrastructure strategy.

Institutional ADA Allocation Expands Despite Market Weakness

Grayscale’s latest rebalancing shows ADA accounting for roughly 20.2% of the Smart Contract Platform Select Capped Index (SCPXC), up from about 18.55% at the start of the year. The increase makes Cardano the third-largest holding in the fund, behind Ethereum and Solana, which each command allocations above 28%.

The fund maintains diversified exposure across several smart contract networks, including Hedera, Avalanche, and Sui, while managing approximately $1.8 million in assets under management with a net asset value of $5.81 per share.

The rising allocation comes amid macro-driven pressure on crypto markets, with risk sentiment weakening across major tokens. Despite the downturn, institutional positioning suggests investors are reassessing long-term blockchain infrastructure plays rather than reducing exposure entirely.

Cardano-LayerZero Integration Strengthens Ecosystem Outlook

Alongside institutional accumulation, Cardano (ADA) has introduced technical developments to expand its interoperability. The network recently integrated with LayerZero, enabling cross-chain messaging and asset transfers across more than 80 blockchain networks.

The upgrade allows dApps on Cardano to interact directly with ecosystems such as Ethereum and Solana, addressing long-standing liquidity fragmentation challenges. Developers can now move assets and data across chains without relying heavily on wrapped tokens or centralized bridges, potentially widening DeFi access.

Additional roadmap initiatives, including protocol upgrades, privacy-focused sidechains, and stablecoin integrations, are designed to improve scalability and attract institutional-grade use cases over the coming year.

Price Structure Remains Fragile Near Key Support

While institutional signals have strengthened, ADA’s market structure remains under pressure. The token is trading around $0.25 after a prolonged downtrend from January highs around $0.42.

Analysts are closely monitoring the $0.24 level, a long-standing demand zone that has historically attracted buyers during periods of heavy selling.

Related Reading: CZ Eyes Binance US Expansion Following Withdrawal Of SEC’s Lawsuit – Report

Technical indicators remain cautious, with resistance forming near the $0.30–$0.31 range. A sustained move above that zone could shift short-term sentiment, while a breakdown below support may expose lower historical price areas.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ADAUSD chart on Tradingview

Crypto pundit Jay Nisbett has drawn attention to an important development in the XRP ecosystem that isn’t talked about enough. He further declared that this might be the most significant development for adoption at the moment. 

Pundit Highlights Key Development For XRP’s Adoption

In an X post, Jay mentioned that SBI is issuing bonds on-chain, which almost immediately gives the holder an equivalent amount of XRP. Furthermore, the company will pay interest over the next three years. The pundit added that this move is “absolutely massive” if one understands the Yen carry trade and the altcoin and the relationship between the two. 

The pundit opined that this move is effectively a “carry trade easing.” He explained that firms have been capturing a few points spread and that Japan is where this has been predominantly occurring. However, these firms are now getting squeezed. Jay believes that this is where XRP provides a way out for these firms, which would result in them owning the token. 

The pundit reiterated that these investors in SBI’s bonds receive an amount of the token equivalent to their bond purchase price. At the same time, they get a few points of interest for doing so. He acknowledged that SBI’s offering is relatively small, totaling $65 million, since it is for retail investors in Japan. 

Jay stated that he will be thoroughly surprised if this move doesn’t result in larger offerings for institutions. He added that the yen spread going down can be mitigated with bond interest of A-credit rating, with almost immediate XRP exposure. It is worth noting that the Yen carry trade continues to unwind as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) moves to hike rates. 

Why This Mechanism Works Better Than Buying The Cryptocurrency Outright

Jay stated that for institutions making an investment decision, buying XRP is risky if purely for investment. However, he noted that buying an A-rated bond that earns a couple of points of interest to offset yen inflation and receiving the altcoin in the process is objectively better than holding yen. 

The pundit also mentioned that this mechanism uses the carry trade as a distribution channel to build out liquidity. He noted that worldwide, Japan is used for its cheap Yen and repatriated primarily to the U.S. Meanwhile, Jay also highlighted how institutions could take advantage of these tokenized bonds and earn XRP. 

He stated that all places utilizing Yen credit could take advantage of these bonds, and everyone taking advantage of the world’s largest creditor nation would demand deeper liquidity pools for their associated currency. Jay stated that they could either create or join an AMM to earn yield and compound their bond interest. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.32, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is reportedly preparing to reenter the digital payments arena—this time through stablecoins. 

The social media giant, which serves more than 3 billion users globally, is reportedly exploring the integration of stablecoin-based payments across its platforms, with a potential rollout targeted for the second half of 2026. 

Meta Eyes Stablecoin Comeback 

According to market expert Milk Road, Meta has issued a request for product (RFP) to outside firms capable of supporting stablecoin payment infrastructure. In practical terms, that indicates the company is seeking a third-party partner to help facilitate crypto-denominated transactions. 

For context of the company’s history with crypto, the development carries a sense of déjà vu. In 2019, Meta unveiled Libra, a proposed global digital currency that was later rebranded as Diem. 

The initiative immediately drew intense scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers. Congress summoned CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify, and mounting political resistance ultimately forced the project’s closure in 2022. 

This time, however, Meta’s strategy appears markedly different. Instead of creating its own stablecoin, the company is reportedly considering partnerships with firms that already operate in the space. Stripe has emerged as a leading candidate. 

The payments company strengthened its position in the stablecoin ecosystem when it acquired Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform, in late 2024. Further aligning the two companies, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board of directors in April 2025.

Major Milestone For Mainstream Adoption?

If implemented, crypto payments across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook could meaningfully reshape how money moves within Meta’s ecosystem. 

Ultimately, Milk Road believes that users could potentially send funds across borders instantly, bypassing traditional banking intermediaries and associated fees. 

At the same time, the industry would gain exposure to a user base of more than 3 billion people—an expansion that could dramatically accelerate mainstream adoption.

Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView.com 

Nearly four years after one of crypto’s most destructive failures erased tens of billions of dollars in value, the collapse of Terraform Labs has returned to the courtroom.

A new lawsuit filed in a U.S. federal court accuses trading giant Jane Street of insider trading tied to the 2022 downfall of the Terra ecosystem, a case that could reshape how institutional trading activity in digital asset markets is scrutinized.

The complaint was filed by the court-appointed administrator overseeing Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy, alleging the firm used confidential information to trade ahead of key market events, avoid losses, and hasten the collapse of its algorithmic stablecoin system.

Allegations of Insider Trading During Terra’s Final Days

According to the lawsuit, Jane Street obtained material non-public information through contacts within Terraform. The filing claims that a former Terraform intern working at the trading firm helped establish private communication channels that allegedly became a source of sensitive operational details.

Central to the case is a series of transactions on May 7, 2022, days before TerraUSD lost its dollar peg. Terraform quietly removed 150 million TerraUSD from Curve’s 3pool liquidity pool, a move that had not yet been disclosed publicly. Less than ten minutes later, a wallet linked to Jane Street allegedly withdrew 85 million TerraUSD from the same pool.

The administrator argues that this timing allowed the firm to unwind large exposures and position trades before panic spread across the market. The lawsuit claims these actions intensified liquidity stress and contributed to the rapid loss of confidence that followed.

Jane Street has strongly denied the accusations, describing the lawsuit as baseless and arguing that Terraform’s own management, not outside traders, was responsible for investor losses.

Revisiting the $40 Billion Crypto Meltdown

Terraform’s collapse remains one of the defining crises in cryptocurrency history. When TerraUSD lost its peg in May 2022, its sister token Luna entered a death spiral that wiped out roughly $40 billion in market value within days.

The fallout triggered widespread liquidations and contributed to broader industry instability, later exposing weaknesses across several crypto firms.

Terraform filed for bankruptcy in 2024, while Kwon later pleaded guilty to criminal charges and received a prison sentence. The current lawsuit follows earlier legal action against another trading firm, signaling an ongoing effort to recover funds for creditors.

Broader Implications for Crypto Market Oversight

The case spotlights growing concerns about information asymmetry in markets often promoted as decentralized. Regulators have increasingly focused on trading practices, market manipulation, and the role of large liquidity providers in digital assets.

If the allegations are proven, the lawsuit could set an important precedent for how proprietary trading firms interact with crypto projects and handle non-public information. Even if unsuccessful, the legal battle reopens unresolved questions about accountability during major crypto failures.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD on Tradingview

Like most meme coins in the market right now, Dogecoin (DOGE) has been in a major downtrend, with its price still testing the $0.1 level amid broader volatility and shifts in investor sentiment. As DOGE’s market value continues to decline, many investors and traders may see the correction as a possible buying opportunity. Amid this backdrop, a crypto analyst has identified the ideal point for investors to re-enter the market. He described this zone as the time when “real money is made.”

Dogecoin Expert Reveals Real Money Zone

Market analyst @AltCryptoGems has highlighted that Dogecoin’s largest profits are not made by accumulating during hype-driven breakouts, but during extended periods of low activity and sideways trading. In a recent analysis shared on X, the market expert stated that Dogecoin currently has one of the most challenging price charts to read for timing entry points. 

He explained that, historically, the Dogecoin price tends to remain inactive or compressed for months before delivering explosive gains that take the market by surprise. Because of this unpredictable and dramatic behavior, he argues that the best chance to make “real money” comes during long, boring market phases, when Dogecoin experiences the least activity and demand.

Notably, historical price patterns on the analyst’s three-day Dogecoin chart reinforce this pattern. During the 2021 bull cycle, the DOGE price exploded by approximately 10,337%, shocking the market. The meme coin climbed from below $0.05 to a peak near $0.76. That explosive rally came after an extended period of sideways trading and low volatility.

After reaching the top, Dogecoin entered a prolonged bear market. The chart marks this long stretch as the “last bear market accumulation,” where price declines and remained near cycle lows for months before staging yet another powerful breakout to the upside. From that accumulation base, which ended around 2024, Dogecoin rallied by 740.22%, reaching a new high of around $0.48. 

Just like in 2021, the price surge in 2024 was unexpected and short-lived, repeating the same pattern of subdued market activity before an unexpected uptrend. Based on @AltCryptoGems’ analysis, this consolidation period is what he describes as the “boring” phase. 

DOGE’s Next Possible Target

According to @AltCryptoGems analysis, Dogecoin’s current chart structure is mirroring the same historical setup seen in 2021 and 2024. The analyst suggests that the meme coin is once again in a boring phase and could be preparing for another major upward rally. 

The analyst has labeled this consolidation area on the chart as a “potential accumulation zone,” corresponding to the price range between $0.1 and $0.3. The chart has also projected the meme coin’s next potential target near $0.25, representing a roughly 177% increase from current levels near $0.09.  

Engie is evaluating whether to pair battery storage or bitcoin mining data centers with its new Assu Sol solar project in Brazil, a move that would position BTC mining as a grid-balancing and revenue tool rather than a standalone industrial bet. The idea matters because it comes from one of Europe’s largest utilities. Moreover, Engie is 23.64% owned and 33.20% controlled by the French government.

Reuters reported on Monday that Engie’s Brazil unit is studying the addition of storage systems or bitcoin-mining-linked data centers at Assu Sol to improve profitability at the site, which the company describes as its largest solar project worldwide. Eduardo Sattamini, Engie’s country manager for Brazil, said the company is assessing local demand solutions as the plant faces output curtailments.

Why Engie Weighs Bitcoin Mining At New Brazil Solar Plant

Assu Sol, located in northeast Brazil, has 895 MWp of installed capacity and entered full commercial operation this month, according to Reuters. But like other renewable projects in the country, it has been affected by grid curtailments used to balance supply and demand, with Sattamini saying he did not specify how much output had been reduced at the plant itself.

The core logic is straightforward: if the grid cannot absorb all renewable generation, Engie can potentially create local offtake demand at the project level. Reuters said the company is considering “data centers for bitcoin mining or storage” as ways to manage the issue at Assu Sol and reduce the economic drag from curtailed production.

Sattamini’s comments also make clear this is an infrastructure planning track, not an imminent launch. “We are looking at some possible offtakers,” he said. “That’s not coming next month. It will take a couple of years for us to implement.”

That timeline is important for Bitcoin markets reading this as a near-term mining expansion signal. The report points instead to a utility-scale feasibility process tied to power monetization and grid constraints, with bitcoin mining one of several candidate loads rather than the confirmed end state.

Reuters said curtailment has become a major issue for Brazilian solar and wind operators since 2023, contributing to billions of reais in losses across the sector. The reported drivers include a rapid buildout of renewable capacity, weak demand growth, infrastructure bottlenecks, and the expansion of distributed generation, especially rooftop solar.

For Bitcoin, the Engie case reinforces a theme that has gained traction in mining strategy: mining demand is increasingly being discussed in power-market terms, especially where excess or stranded generation needs a flexible buyer. If Engie moves forward, the signal may be less about hash rate in the short run and more about how large utilities are starting to treat bitcoin mining as a potential grid-adjacent industrial load.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $63,123.

Technical analysis of the BTC.D chart is pointing to a tip in balance that might lead to a crash in Bitcoin’s crypto market cap dominance. 

Analysts on X are pointing to signals on the Bitcoin dominance chart that could precede a sharp downward move, one that could have a massive effect on how liquidity rotates into the altcoin market. The latest outlook came from crypto analyst Cryptoinsightuk, who highlighted the current state of the weekly Bollinger Bands indicator on the BTC.D chart as a reason why BTC’s dominance is about to experience a massive crash.

Weekly Bollinger Bands Flash 2017-Style Setup

According to CryptoInsightsuk, the current compression and positioning of the Bollinger bands resemble conditions seen in March 2017, a period that preceded a rapid decline in Bitcoin dominance and the start of a powerful altcoin rally season.

The weekly candlestick chart shows Bitcoin dominance pressing near the mid-to-upper Bollinger Band region around 59%, with the bands now tightening. In previous cycles, particularly in 2017, a similar band structure led to a high-velocity crash that pushed BTC’s dominance downwards for many weeks. This is visible in the grey zone labelled in the chart below as the “Previous ALT Season Start Point.”

According to the analyst, this tightening of Bollinger Bands is expected to result in a downward move that pushes the BTC dominance to the mid-30%. This is highlighted in the chart below as a target range between 30% and 35%, with a mid-level of 33.5%.

Liquidity Rotation And The Altcoin Effect

Another crypto analyst known as Bird responded to the analysis with a note that charts are pointing to a violent move down in Bitcoin dominance. As noted by the analyst, violent downward moves in BTC.D have always coincided with aggressive liquidity rotation into altcoins. A quick drop in Bitcoin’s market share is due to more capital flowing into the altcoin market than into BTC.

In the analyst’s view, once dominance breaks convincingly, major cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and XRP will start to gain meaningful market share. Bird specifically noted that XRP may be positioned for a strong move through March and beyond, citing reasons of ongoing infrastructure development tied to Ripple’s ecosystem.

That said, predictions of a crash in BTC dominance are not new. Market participants have been anticipating the start of a full-scale altcoin season for the past several months. However, Bitcoin’s dominance has held steady, even during periods of price crashes. This is because periods of outflows from Bitcoin have always led to corresponding outflows from other cryptocurrencies.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is currently at 57.7%, down by 1.34% in the past 24 hours. A breakout above the prior alt-season start zone in the 60% range could invalidate the bearish thesis and extend Bitcoin’s control further into 2026.

US President Donald Trump’s advisory group is looking at a plan to issue a US dollar-backed stablecoin to help people in Gaza who face severe cash shortages and broken banking services.

The plan is being talked about by the Board of Peace and a handful of outside advisers. Based on reports by the Financial Times, the pitch aims to let aid and basic trade carry on even when ATMs and regular banks are offline.

$1 Billion Membership

Membership in the board requires a $1 billion contribution, according to reports, a condition that has fueled debate over influence and oversight. Trump announced the assembly of the board in January.

The effort has technical backers. One name tied to early planning is Liran Tancman, who has been linked to discussions with the territory’s technocratic team, the National Committee For The Administration Of Gaza.

They have talked about a currency token that would be pegged to the dollar, with reserves and systems that would allow people and aid groups to buy food, medicine, and fuel without needing functioning local banks.

Officials advising Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” are exploring a US dollar-backed crypto stablecoin for Gaza.

According to the Financial Times, this crypto concept is in an exploratory phase, but it could spell the rebuilding of Gaza being tied to a crypto experiment.

— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) February 23, 2026

Stablecoin Support For Transactions

Supporters say a token could cut some friction. When cash runs low and banks are down, people cannot get what they need. A simple digital token held on phones could move value quickly between traders and charities.

It might also let international donors send help with fewer middlemen. There are questions about how to store the reserves, who would audit them, and what legal system would enforce payments. None of those issues has been solved.

Concerns About Control And Isolation

Critics warn of political and practical risks. Some worry that a special token for the strip could deepen separation from nearby markets and make coordination with the West Bank harder.

Others point to patchy internet access and the risk that a digital system could be shut down or manipulated during fighting. There is also debate over which institutions would hold the funds and who would be allowed to issue or burn tokens if things go wrong.

How It Would Work In Practice

Reports say the plan is still preliminary and that no issuing authority has been chosen. Proposals vary. One model uses a trusted third party outside the region to hold dollar reserves and run the ledger. Another relies on local partners to manage day-to-day distribution.

In both cases, safeguards have been suggested: independent audits, multi-party control of reserves, and strict rules for spending on essential goods only. These are ideas on paper more than firm plans.

Featured image from Crypto Valley Journal, chart from TradingView

Crypto firm Terraform Labs’ wind-down administrator has sued Jane Street in Manhattan federal court, alleging the trading firm used material non-public information from Terraform insiders to trade around the May 2022 collapse of TerraUSD (UST) and Luna.

The complaint was filed by Todd R. Snyder, the administrator overseeing recoveries tied to Terraform’s bankruptcy wind-down. It names Jane Street entities and several individuals, including Bryce Pratt, and accuses the defendants of insider trading, fraud, and market manipulation tied to trading during the depeg crisis. The suit seeks damages and disgorgement, with any recovery intended to support creditor distributions.

Did Jane Street Cause The $40 Billion Crypto Crash?

A central part of the case is the role of Pratt, who allegedly moved from an internship at Terraform to a position at Jane Street while maintaining contact with Terraform personnel. The complaint claims he kept a confidential back channel with Terraform’s head of research and passed along sensitive information.

The filing quotes messages that, according to the plaintiff, show both the existence of confidential communications and an understanding that the information should not be shared. One message allegedly included the phrase “don’t share pls.” The complaint also claims Terraform personnel asked Pratt what Jane Street was discussing internally.

That point is critical to the plaintiff’s theory. The case is not framed as Jane Street simply trading aggressively during a volatile market event. It is framed as a claim that Jane Street had a private informational edge at a moment when the market was relying on public signals and deteriorating liquidity.

The lawsuit’s market narrative centers on the early phase of the UST depeg and liquidity movements on Curve. Snyder alleges that after Terraform adjusted liquidity in Curve’s 3pool, a Jane Street-linked 85 million UST trade hit the pool and became “the largest single swap on the Curve 3pool.”

The complaint goes further, alleging that this trade “precipitated a steep sell off in UST” and helped trigger the broader collapse of the Terra ecosystem. It also describes how conditions worsened over May 8 and 9, with UST trading volume surging and the token falling below $0.80 as Terraform attempted to defend the peg.

This sequence matters because the plaintiff is trying to connect alleged access to non-public information with a specific trading action and then link that action to damages suffered during the unwind.

The suit also cites direct communications during the meltdown. In one May 9 message referenced in the complaint, Pratt allegedly wrote to Do Kwon: “Hey Do Kwon, just wanted to express our interest in bidding on either BTC or LUNA.”

According to the filing, Kwon responded that “Bill from Jump” should have contacted Jane Street regarding a Terraform fundraise. The plaintiff uses that exchange to argue that Jane Street was not just an outside trading firm reacting to market prices, but was in direct communication with Terraform leadership while emergency options were being discussed.

Jane Street has pushed back on the allegations and is expected to contest the claims aggressively. As in other post-Terra litigation, key issues will likely include whether the information was truly material and non-public, whether the trades were causally connected to the collapse, and whether the plaintiff can prove intent.

At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.17 trillion.

Bitcoin treasury company Strategy has completed a new purchase of 593 BTC, the firm’s 100th overall acquisition since it started accumulating.

Strategy Has Added 592 BTC To Its Treasury

In a new post on X, Strategy co-founder and chairman Michael Saylor has announced the latest BTC acquisition made by the company. This buy, which cost the firm a total of $39.8 million, involved 592 tokens. In terms of scale, the acquisition isn’t anything impressive by Strategy’s standards, but it does mark an important milestone: it’s the 100th purchase completed by the firm.

Strategy first started accumulating Bitcoin back in 2020 and in that time, the company has made only one sale. The sale in question occurred back in December 2022, when BTC was trading at the lows of last cycle’s bear market. Besides this, the firm has shown strong conviction toward the cryptocurrency, with purchases only becoming more regular as time has gone on.

Following the 100th buy by Strategy, its total holdings have grown to 717,722 BTC, equivalent to nearly 3.6% of the entire BTC supply in circulation. The company spent a total of $54.56 billion on this stack, but today, it is only worth $46.48 billion, meaning that the firm is in a loss of nearly 15%.

Speaking of loss, Strategy has a reputation of buying at or near local tops in the asset. The same appears to have been the case this time as well, with the cryptocurrency currently down almost 4% from the new purchase’s cost basis of $67,286 per token.

According to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Strategy made the latest acquisition between February 17th and 22nd, and funded it using sales from the firm’s MSTR at-the-market (ATM) stock offering program.

With each new purchase, Strategy is only solidifying its status as the number one Bitcoin treasury company in the world, as the table from BitcoinTreasuries.net shows.

Strategy is also not only the largest holder of BTC, it’s the largest public digital asset treasury company in general. The spot for the second largest is held by Bitmine, a Bitcoin mining company that adopted an Ethereum treasury strategy last year.

Bitmine has also participated in Ethereum accumulation during the past week, as announced in a Monday press release. The firm has added 51,162 ETH to its treasury with this buying spree, taking the total reserve amount to 4,422,659 ETH, equivalent to 3.66% of the ETH circulating supply.

Out of this, the company has locked 3,040,483 ETH into the staking contract. Bitmine chairman Thomas “Tom” Lee said:

In the midst of this ‘mini crypto winter,’ our focus continues to be on methodically executing our treasury strategy and steadily acquiring ETH and in turn, optimizing the yield on our ETH holdings.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $65,100, down more than 4% over the last seven days.

Binance.US, the American affiliate of the global crypto exchange, is reportedly exploring expanding within the US to develop and offer “superior products” to the American market, following the Trump administration’s easing of enforcement actions and push for a clear regulatory framework.

Binance.US Eyes Local Growth

On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao shared Binance.US’s plan to expand its business in the US market to enhance accessibility to American customers.

In an interview at the Mar-a-Lago forum hosted by the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI), he affirmed that the platform wants to “bring a superior product into the US,” adding, “We want to make the superior product offering much more accessible to the US consumer.”

Zhao, also known as CZ, clarified that his remarks concerned only the US affiliate, not the global exchange, noting that he doesn’t run Binance. He also asserted that his role as the exchange’s leader is “a chapter that’s closed.”

Notably, CZ stepped down as Binance’s CEO after pleading guilty to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) violations in 2023 while leading the crypto exchange. Despite this, he remained the majority shareholder of Binance.US. In October 2025, CZ was pardoned by US President Donald Trump.

In 2023, the global exchange also pleaded guilty to federal charges and agreed to pay over $4 billion to resolve the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation.

Despite the potential expansion, Zhao acknowledged that the exchange faces obstacles following the now-dropped 2023 lawsuit by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which led to a significant loss in banking access and market share.

The former CEO believes that under the more accommodating regulatory climate, options that used to be out of reach, such as deeper banking ties or pursuing a crypto national bank charter, now seem “totally possible.” Nonetheless, he stressed such a move would “depend on the right team and legal guidance.”

A Binance.US spokeswoman told Bloomberg that the company “remains committed to being the best platform for users to buy, trade, and earn digital assets in the US. We continue to actively build and grow our platform through new products and offerings, enhancing our ability to deliver an experience that meets the evolving needs of crypto investors.”

US Crypto Regulatory Landscape

During a January interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Binance CEO Richard Teng called America a very important market, adding that the global exchange is taking a “wait-and-see” approach to reentering the US.

Teng also discussed the state of US crypto regulations, affirming that “any regulation will be better than no regulation.” He argued that having regulatory clarity will allow crypto companies to navigate the market effectively.

His comments followed concerns about the passage of the crypto market structure bill, which has been stalled at the Senate Banking Committee for over a month. The legislation’s January markup was delayed after part of the crypto industry withdrew its support for the bill over stablecoin rewards.

The draft proposed that issuers offer rewards for specific actions, such as account openings and cashback, but also prohibited issuers from providing interest payments to passive token holders.

According to reports from the latest White House Crypto Council meeting to discuss the dispute, the debate was narrowed to whether crypto firms can offer rewards linked to specific activities, as “earning yield on idle balances (…) is effectively off the table.”

The White House also proposed anti-evasion language to give the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Department of the Treasury authority to enforce a ban on paying yield on idle stablecoin balances.

Following the meeting, some attendees believe the legislation could meet the White House’s end-of-month deadline set last week and reach President Trump’s desk soon.

Ethereum is struggling to hold above the $2,000 level as the broader crypto market enters a more fragile phase marked by persistent selling pressure, fading momentum, and elevated uncertainty. Despite several rebound attempts in recent weeks, price action has remained subdued, with liquidity conditions tightening and investor sentiment turning increasingly cautious. The inability to secure sustained acceptance above this psychological threshold has reinforced the perception that the market is still navigating a corrective environment rather than transitioning into a clear recovery phase.

A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context by highlighting a sharp increase in exchange activity. According to the data, total Ethereum inflows to Binance over the past 30 days reached roughly $33.3 billion — the highest level recorded since last November. This surge comes as ETH trades near $1,955 after a gradual but persistent decline in recent weeks.

Historically, rising inflows to major exchanges tend to indicate a growing supply of assets available for trading. When substantial volumes of Ethereum move onto platforms like Binance, they may be used for spot sales, derivatives collateral, or portfolio rebalancing. Consequently, this spike in inflows signals heightened market activity and potentially increased short-term volatility.

Exchange Inflows Surge As Market Tests Supply Absorption

While the recent surge in Ethereum inflows to Binance may initially appear bearish, the report emphasizes that this development should not automatically be interpreted as a negative signal. Elevated exchange inflows can sometimes reflect strategic repositioning rather than immediate selling intent. Investors may be preparing to actively trade, hedge exposure, or adjust portfolio allocations, particularly during periods of heightened volatility when liquidity access becomes more critical.

In addition, strong inflow phases have occasionally preceded periods of price stabilization. When additional supply entering exchanges is met by sufficient demand, markets can transition into consolidation rather than extended declines. This dynamic often depends on broader liquidity conditions, derivatives positioning, and macro sentiment rather than inflows alone.

That said, registering the highest inflow level since last November places Ethereum in a structurally sensitive phase. The market’s reaction to these flows will likely provide clearer directional signals in the coming weeks. If the added supply translates into persistent sell-side pressure, downside risks could remain elevated. Conversely, if demand absorbs this liquidity effectively, the current phase may represent redistribution ahead of a more constructive move rather than sustained weakness.

Ethereum Price Holds Fragile Ground Below Key Resistance

Ethereum’s weekly chart reflects a structurally fragile environment as price continues trading below the $2,000 psychological threshold. After failing to sustain momentum above the mid-2025 highs near the $4,800 region, ETH has established a sequence of lower highs and lower lows — a classic downtrend formation indicating persistent distribution rather than consolidation.

Technically, Ethereum is now positioned beneath its key moving averages, which previously acted as dynamic support during the rally phase. These averages have rolled over and now function as resistance zones, limiting recovery attempts unless decisively reclaimed. The recent rejection near the $3,000 area reinforced this bearish transition, accelerating downside momentum toward the current ~$1,900 region.

Volume trends show declining participation compared with the expansion phase, suggesting reduced speculative enthusiasm. However, declining volume during corrections can sometimes precede stabilization if selling pressure becomes exhausted.

From a structural perspective, immediate support appears near the $1,800–$1,900 range, where prior consolidation occurred. A sustained break below this zone could expose deeper retracement levels toward historical accumulation areas. Conversely, reclaiming the $2,200–$2,400 region with strong volume would be required to shift short-term momentum back toward a neutral or constructive bias.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto.com has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank. The firm said that the approval allows the company to charter Foris Dax National Trust Bank, which will operate under the name Crypto.com National Trust Bank once it secures full authorization. 

Crypto.com Advances Regulated Custody Plans

Kris Marszalek, Co‑Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, described the development as a reflection of the company’s focus on regulatory compliance and customer protection. 

According to Marszalek, achieving full approval would position the firm as a “one‑stop shop” qualified custodian operating under what he characterized as a gold standard of federal supervision.

The company said it intends to provide custody, asset staking across multiple blockchains and digital asset protocols — including its Cronos network — as well as trade settlement services within a regulated framework.

Yet, Crypto.com is not alone in pursuing this regulatory pathway. Over the past year, the OCC has approved national trust charter applications from several major digital asset firms, including Circle’s First National Digital Currency Bank, Ripple National Trust Bank, BitGo Bank & Trust, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos Trust Company. 

More recently, Bridge — a stablecoin infrastructure provider owned by Stripe — said it also secured conditional approval to establish a national trust bank.

If finalized, these charters would allow crypto companies to hold and manage customer assets directly, potentially streamlining payment processing and accelerating settlement times. However, the OCC’s recent approvals have drawn scrutiny from traditional banking groups. 

ABA Urges OCC To Halt Crypto Trust Bank Approvals

The American Bankers Association (ABA) last week called on the OCC to pause further approvals for crypto and stablecoin firms until there is greater clarity surrounding the regulatory framework tied to the GENIUS Act. 

The ABA urged the regulator not to move forward with applications if the full scope of regulatory obligations — including requirements that may arise under future GENIUS Act rulemaking — has not been clearly defined.

In its comments, the association cautioned that uninsured national trust banks focused primarily on digital assets present unresolved safety and soundness concerns. 

Among the issues cited were the segregation of customer assets, potential conflicts of interest, alleged cybersecurity risks, operational resilience, and how such institutions would be handled in the event of failure.

Meanwhile, interest in national trust bank status continues to grow within the digital asset sector. In January, World Liberty Financial (WLFI) said that one of its subsidiaries had filed an application to form a national trust bank centered on stablecoin operations.

However, at the time of writing, the exchange’s native token, CRO, was trading at $0.074, according to CoinGecko data, registering a 20% loss in the monthly time frame. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin is struggling to hold the $65,000 level as market sentiment drifts toward apathy following weeks of muted price action and declining participation. Volatility has compressed noticeably, and traders appear hesitant to commit fresh capital while macro uncertainty and liquidity constraints continue to weigh on risk assets. The lack of decisive momentum has left Bitcoin consolidating near a technically sensitive zone, where both bulls and bears seem reluctant to take aggressive positions.

A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context through on-chain positioning data. According to the analysis, during the early February correction, the indicator dropped to roughly -0.0016, reflecting measurable weakness in underlying network activity. This development occurred after Bitcoin had already closed below the Anchored Volume Weighted Average Price (AVWAP) tied to the most recent halving on the weekly timeframe — a level often monitored as a structural reference for market positioning.

Trading below this anchored metric suggests reduced conviction among market participants and potentially weaker cost-basis support. While such conditions do not necessarily imply imminent downside, they typically correspond with transitional phases marked by uncertainty, subdued participation, and cautious capital deployment as the market searches for directional clarity.

Bearish Confluence Signals Echo Prior Cycle Dynamics

The report highlights that the last comparable bearish confluence following an all-time high occurred in May 2022, a period that ultimately preceded a prolonged corrective phase. According to the analysis, this comparison is based on a combination of structural indicators rather than isolated price action, specifically the BTC Growth Rate Difference between Market Cap and Realized Cap — an indicator developed by CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju — alongside Anchored VWAP levels tied to the third and fourth Bitcoin halvings.

The Growth Rate Difference metric evaluates whether market capitalization expansion is outpacing the underlying realized capitalization, which reflects the aggregated cost basis of coins on-chain. When this gap narrows or turns negative, it often signals weakening speculative momentum and reduced capital inflows relative to existing holder positioning.

At the same time, Bitcoin trading below key halving-anchored AVWAP levels suggests diminished structural support from long-term cost bases. Historically, these levels have functioned as reference zones for institutional and macro-oriented investors.

Together, these indicators do not guarantee further downside, but they do indicate a fragile market structure. Such conditions typically require either renewed liquidity inflows or sustained accumulation before a convincing recovery phase can develop.

Bitcoin Price Tests Key Support As Downtrend Persists

Bitcoin’s weekly structure continues to reflect a corrective phase, with price struggling to stabilize near the mid-$60,000 range after a sharp rejection from the $110,000–$120,000 zone seen late last year. The chart shows a clear transition from bullish expansion to distribution, followed by a sustained sequence of lower highs and lower lows — a pattern typically associated with weakening momentum rather than consolidation.

Technically, Bitcoin is now trading below major moving averages that previously acted as dynamic support. The shorter-term average has already rolled over decisively, while the longer-term trend line remains upward sloping but increasingly distant from current price action. Sustained trading beneath these levels usually reflects cautious sentiment and reduced upside conviction.

Volume spikes during recent selloffs suggest active distribution rather than passive drift lower. However, declining participation afterward could indicate partial exhaustion of aggressive sellers, potentially opening the door for a stabilization phase if demand returns.

From a structural perspective, the $60,000–$62,000 zone appears to function as immediate support, while the $70,000–$75,000 range represents the first meaningful resistance band. Unless Bitcoin decisively reclaims higher levels with strong volume, the broader trend remains fragile, with consolidation or additional downside risk still plausible.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

The crypto market has started the week under pressure as macroeconomic uncertainty and trade tensions unsettled investors, briefly pushing Bitcoin below $65,000 and driving a surge in online panic signals. The latest decline has closely followed global economic headlines rather than crypto-specific factors.

On Feb. 23, Bitcoin dropped to nearly $64,400 within hours, dragging major altcoins lower and wiping billions from total market value. The move coincided with escalating tariff concerns after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an increase in global import tariffs to 15%, amplifying fears of slower economic growth.

Fear Spikes as Retail Sentiment on Bitcoin (BTC) Deteriorates

Retail sentiment has weakened sharply as prices struggle around $65,000, with fear increasingly visible across market indicators. Online search behavior reflects growing anxiety, as data from Google Trends shows a record surge in searches for “Bitcoin to zero.”

Technical indicators show Bitcoin (BTC) struggling to maintain key support levels amid heightened selling pressure. Spot trading volumes dropped by nearly 59%, limiting liquidity and amplifying price swings. Derivatives markets also reflect caution: open interest fell to $19.5 billion, roughly half of January’s peak.

Price charts indicate further downside if support near $64,000 fails, with $60,000 as the key lower target. The 20-day moving average around $68,278 and the lower Bollinger Band near $64,098 show range-bound pressure, while mild outflows and clustered leveraged longs between $64,090–$64,536 could trigger liquidations.

Macro Shocks Weigh on Crypto Markets

Analysts linked the sell-off to a combination of weakening economic indicators and risk-off sentiment. U.S. housing data showed declining pending home sales, while currency markets reacted to expectations of tighter policy from the Bank of Japan, strengthening the yen and prompting global funds to reduce leverage.

Similarly, whale activity added pressure. On-chain data showed large holders moving coins onto exchanges, a signal often associated with selling. Spot trading volumes also dropped significantly, suggesting limited liquidity to absorb sudden moves.

The broader market followed Bitcoin lower. Ethereum fell roughly 5%, while other major tokens posted losses between 3% and 8%. Additional attention came after Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold millions of dollars worth of ETH, reinforcing concerns about near-term supply pressure.

Market participants now view the $60,000 level as a key support zone. Analysts warn that a sustained break below it could trigger large liquidations, while recovery above the mid-$60,000 range may stabilize sentiment.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview