US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $133.3 million in net outflows on Wednesday, taking weekly losses to $238 million, with BlackRock's IBIT accounting for $84 million, according to SoSoValue. Trading volumes slipped below $3 billion as sentiment stayed in "Extreme Fear" and BTC traded near $67,058, down about 24% year-to-date. Solana ETFs extended a six-day inflow streak, lifting year-to-date gains to roughly $113 million.

On 19 February 2026, market data showed a sharp rotation of liquidity from altcoins into Bitcoin, with altcoin volumes on Binance falling close to 50% from November levels. Bitcoin’s share of exchange activity has risen to around 58–60% and whales have acquired over 100,000 BTC in 2026, helping to support prices between $65,000 and $72,000. At the same time, macro uncertainty and spot ETF outflows have contributed to a cautious, defensive stance among crypto investors.

At its late-January Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the United States Federal Reserve left rates at 3.5%–3.75% but noted that further hikes could be warranted if inflation remains above target. The minutes show some policymakers prefer to hold rates steady for longer and see no case for additional easing until disinflation clearly resumes. A return to tighter policy would typically weigh on crypto markets by lifting yields on safer assets and making borrowing more expensive.

On Feb. 12, three researchers linked to the U.S. Federal Reserve published a paper arguing that prediction market Kalshi can capture macroeconomic expectations in real time more effectively than traditional tools. The authors said Kalshi's intraday trading data could be used to derive risk-neutral probability distributions of Federal Open Market Committee rate decisions, although the paper is only intended to stimulate discussion rather than guide policy.

Ethereum is attempting to stabilize close to the $2,000 zone after a sharp correction from above $2,700, while Bitcoin trades in a tight band between roughly $66,000 and $70,000. XRP has rebounded toward the $1.45–$1.50 area but remains below key moving averages, leaving the token vulnerable to a prolonged low‑volatility range if support fails. Technical signals across all three assets point to fragile recoveries and the potential for extended consolidation phases.

At Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE conference in Hong Kong on Feb. 12, industry leaders focused on Bitcoin's exposure to quantum computing, looming US regulation and the path to trillion-dollar crypto infrastructure. Tron founder Justin Sun urged the sector to get ready for artificial general intelligence, while investors and executives debated how to price quantum risk into Bitcoin and how far the US CLARITY Act could reshape the regulatory landscape.

On February 18, 2026, it was reported that SunTrust Bank, now operating as Truist Bank, agreed to a settlement of up to $240,000,000 over allegedly unlawful overdraft fees charged to Georgia customers. After an estimated $84,200,000 is allocated for legal and administrative costs, about $155,800,000 from the class-action case filed in 2010 will be distributed on a claims-based, pro rata basis to eligible account holders who paid overdraft fees between July 12, 2006, and April 15, 2014.

Analysts have scrutinized SEC 13F filings to assess whether Hong Kong-based Laurore LTD was involved in Bitcoin's sharp October 2025 crash, when the market saw about $19 billion in liquidations. The reports show Laurore amassed roughly $436 million of IBIT shares during Q4 2025, while major options market makers significantly boosted long volatility positions in the ETF. Commentary from industry figures indicates Laurore likely did not trigger the so-called 1010 event, but the case highlights growing interest from Chinese-linked capital in accessing Bitcoin via US-regulated ETFs.