Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

Bitcoin is trading sideways around $68,000, stuck in a $65K-$72K range since early February. Outflows of $105 million from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are capping short-term rallies, while low volatility keeps the market in a holding pattern. Bulls highlight strong support near $50K and undervaluation versus gold, but bears warn of potential drops to $48K-$42K if key levels break. Recent $193 million in liquidations show risks are still high as traders wait for the next big move.

On-chain analyst Willy Woo outlined Bitcoin’s bear cycle in three phases. Phase 1 began with a Q3 2025 liquidity breakdown, while Phase 2 is expected once broader market weakness sets in, leading eventually to capitulation and recovery. Bitcoin has fallen 47% from its $126K peak to $67.3K, with volatility levels not seen since the 2022 FTX crash. Critics cite Woo’s past missed calls, but bulls highlight softer inflation and ETF inflows as potential stabilizers, suggesting the market could weather this bear cycle.

Ethereum’s Beacon Deposit Contract has reached 80.97 million ETH, now holding over 50% of the total supply for the first time in its 11-year history. This growth from 77.85 million a month ago reflects continued deposits following the 2022 Merge, where users lock ETH to secure the network and earn rewards. Long-term holders show commitment with steady inflows, while analysts note that rising staking reduces liquid supply, signaling tighter liquidity ahead for trading.

XRP is trading near $1.48, holding a $90 billion market cap, and remains the fourth-largest crypto behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether. Technical indicators show weekly and monthly RSI in oversold zones, signaling a potential rebound. Enthusiasts who held through February’s $1.36 dip are cheering a recovery, while Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlights growing institutional interest and 2026 adoption prospects. Analysts like Standard Chartered caution with a $2.80 target, watching support at $1.42–$1.48 for stability.

Sam Bankman-Fried has argued that FTX was financially sound at the time it filed for bankruptcy, claiming the platform held sufficient assets to meet customer balances even after withdrawals were frozen. Speaking amid his prison sentence, he maintains that users have since been repaid in full and says this should be considered in his request for a reduced sentence. His remarks have reopened debate over the exchange’s liquidity, asset management, and the true state of its finances before the collapse.

Billionaire investor Peter Thiel and his firm Founders Fund have fully sold their stake in ETHZilla, reducing ownership from about 7.5 percent to zero by the end of 2025, according to SEC filings. The company had raised 425 million dollars to build an Ether treasury after rebranding from 180 Life Sciences, and Thiel’s backing once pushed shares above 174 dollars before they later fell sharply. Following market weakness and the sale of Ether to repay debt, ETHZilla shifted focus toward tokenized jet engine leases, while Thiel chose to step away completely.

Asset manager Bitwise has filed for a new group of prediction market-style ETFs under the PredictionShares brand, joining Roundhill in the race to bring these event-linked funds to market. The proposed ETFs would let investors gain regulated exposure to binary contracts tied to outcomes of the 2028 U.S. presidential election and the 2026 Congressional midterms, with payouts based on each specific result. Bitwise says the move responds to growing interest in prediction markets and aims to expand access through traditional brokerage accounts. Approval from regulators is still pending.

Dragonfly Capital has closed its fourth fund at $650 million, even as it describes the current crypto venture landscape as a “mass extinction event.” Despite market challenges, the firm remains focused on key growth areas in crypto, including financial infrastructure, stablecoins, on-chain finance, and tokenized real-world assets (RWA). The move highlights Dragonfly’s long-term confidence in blockchain innovation, positioning the firm to back projects that could shape the future of decentralized finance despite broader market volatility.

Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin treasury company, Strategy, continued its aggressive accumulation by buying 2,486 BTC in its latest purchase, adding roughly $168 million to its treasury. This brings the firm’s total Bitcoin holdings to 717,131 BTC acquired for about $54.52 billion at an average price of around $76,027 per coin as of February 16, 2026, making it one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin and underscoring its long‑term belief in BTC despite recent market volatility.

Ethereum’s tokenized real-world assets, including U.S. Treasuries, gold, and private credit, have crossed $15 billion, growing about 200% year-over-year. These blockchain tokens enable easier trading, yields, and fractional ownership. Ethereum holds 58% of the global non-stablecoin RWA market, with major players like BlackRock’s $1.8 billion BUIDL fund fueling growth. Transfer volumes doubled to $26 billion in 30 days, pushing RWAs to No. 4 in DeFi by total value locked at $21.5 billion, with analysts forecasting trillions more by 2030.