Market Signal Briefing

Ralliant Corporation (RAL) Citi's Global Industrial Tech & Mobility Conference 2026 February 17, 2026 11:20 AM EST

Company Participants

Tamara Newcombe - President, CEO & Director
Neill Reynolds - Senior VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Piyush Avasthy - Citigroup Inc., Research Division

Presentation

Piyush Avasthy
Citigroup Inc., Research Division

Thank you, everyone. We are really excited to be up here with Ralliant. We have President and CEO, Tami Newcombe and CFO, Neill Reynolds. I think, Tami, you have some opening remarks, and then we'll get into Q&A.

Tamara Newcombe
President, CEO & Director

Yes. Thanks for having us, Piyush. Thanks for everybody here in person and those that are joining us virtually. It's a pivotal time to be a part of Ralliant. We've just completed our first 2 quarters as an independent publicly traded company and starting our first full year. It was a year ago. It's been interesting being here today because a year ago, I was at this conference. And if I think back to a year ago, we were planning to spin at the end of the year. And to realize we did that 2 quarters early is really quite an accomplishment for the team.

I also think about we are really pragmatic about ensuring that the presidents in our operating businesses stay focused on our customers. And we're removed from any of the noise about standing up the public company. And they focus on customers, they focus on new product innovation. They were focused on growth because that was one of our thesis that we could grow these businesses faster. And as we come into 2026, we look at our guide for Q1, and that guide is a 5% to 8% growth on businesses that had traditionally been growing 3% and both segments growing. So Test & Measurement back to growth. And what I say to the team is, and

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming February 20, 2026 deadline to participate as a lead plaintiff in the securities fraud class action lawsuit filed on behalf of investors who acquired Klarna Group plc (“Klarna” or the “Company”) (NYSE: KLAR) securities pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with the Company’s September 2025 initial public offering (the “IPO”).

IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO LOST MONEY ON KLARNA GROUP PLC (KLAR), CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.

What Happened?

On September 10, 2025, Klarna conducted its IPO, selling 34.3 million shares at $40 per share.

Then, on November 18, 2025, Klarna released its third quarter 2025 financial results, revealing that its provision for credit losses spiked by 39% due to “changes in . . . market and product mix,” and, “in particular an increased share of the U.S. market in [its] GMV [Gross Merchandise Volume].”

On this news, Klarna’s stock price fell $3.25, or 9.3%, to close at $31.63 per share on November 18, 2025, thereby injuring investors.

Since the IPO, the Company’s share price has fallen substantially below its IPO price, further injuring investors.

What Is the Lawsuit About?

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that its loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna’s buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Klarna securities pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO, the deadline to seek appointment as the lead plaintiff in the securities fraud class action is February 20, 2026.

Contact Us to Participate or Learn More:

If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact us:

Frank R. Cruz
The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz
2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 800
Century City, California 90067
Email us at: [email protected]
Call us at: 310-914-5007
Visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW

If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

More News From Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired agilon health, inc. (NYSE: AGL) securities between February 26, 2025 and August 4, 2025. Agilon describes itself as the "trusted partner empowering physicians to transform health care in our communities."

For more information, submit a form, email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003.

What are the allegations? Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Prospects

According to the complaint, defendants failed to disclose that they recklessly issued guidance for 2025 that they knew or should have known was not going to be achieved, given material industry headwinds of which they were aware, and materially overstated the immediate positive financial impact from “strategic actions” taken by agilon to reduce risk.

On August 4, 2025, agilon issued a press release announcing that Steven Sell had stepped down as President, CEO and a Director of the Board. Plaintiff alleges that the Company's form 8-K filed with the SEC stated that "Mr. Sell's departure was a termination without 'cause' under Mr. Sell's employment agreement[.]" The complaint further alleges that on August 4, 2025, agilon issued disappointing financial results. On this news, the price of the Company's stock fell over 50%, to close at $0.8801 on August 5, 2025.

What can you do now? You may be eligible to participate in the class action against agilon health, inc. Shareholders who wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their papers to the court by March 2, 2026. The lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002.

To be notified if a class action against agilon health, inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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PLANTATION, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) (“Chewy”), a trusted destination for pet parents and partners everywhere, announced today that Sumit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 2, 2026 at 4:50 PM PT.

A live audio webcast can be accessed on the company’s investor relations website at https://investor.chewy.com and a replay will be accessible for 90 days following the event.

About Chewy

Our mission is to be the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. We believe that we are the preeminent online source for pet products, supplies and prescriptions as a result of our broad selection of high-quality products and services, which we offer at competitive prices and deliver with an exceptional level of care and a personal touch to build brand loyalty and drive repeat purchasing. We seek to continually develop innovative ways for our customers to engage with us, as our websites and mobile applications allow our pet parents to manage their pets’ health, wellness, and merchandise needs, while enabling them to conveniently shop for our products. We partner with approximately 3,200 of the best and most trusted brands in the pet industry, and we create and offer our own private brands. Through our websites and mobile applications, we offer our customers approximately 130,000 products and services offerings, to bring what we believe is a high-bar, customer-centric experience to our customers.

More News From Chewy

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Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call February 17, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Mark Warren - Vice President of Investor Relations
Ronnie Pruitt - CEO & Director
Mary Carlisle - Senior VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Trey Grooms - Stephens Inc., Research Division
Patrick Brown - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Asher Sohnen - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Kathryn Thompson - Thompson Research Group, LLC
Angel Castillo Malpica - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Michael Dudas - Vertical Research Partners, LLC
Timna Tanners - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Garik Shmois - Loop Capital Markets LLC, Research Division
Adam Thalhimer - Thompson, Davis & Company, Inc., Research Division
David S. MacGregor - Longbow Research LLC
Steven Fisher - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Ivan Yi - Wolfe Research, LLC
Brian Brophy - Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning. Welcome, everyone, to the Vulcan Materials Company Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Call. My name is Angela, and I will be your conference call coordinator today. Please be reminded that today's call is being recorded and will be available for replay later today at the company's website. [Operator Instructions]

Now I will turn the call over to your host, Mr. Mark Warren, Vice President of Investor Relations for Vulcan Materials. Mr. Warren, you may begin.

Mark Warren
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you, operator. With me today are Ronnie Pruitt, Chief Executive Officer; and Mary Andrews Carlisle, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Today's call is accompanied by a press release and a supplemental presentation posted to our website, vulcanmaterials.com.

Please be reminded that today's discussion may include forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks, along with other legal disclaimers, are described in detail in the company's earnings release and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial

The retail-trading platform said it expects its Robinhood Ventures Fund I to go public in the coming weeks on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RVI.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Terry Smith, the founder and CEO of Fundsmith, is often dubbed the “English Warren Buffett” for his value-oriented investing style focused on high-quality companies with strong returns on capital. In recent quarters, Smith has been on a stock-selling spree, trimming positions in several holdings amid market volatility. 

With approximately $17.1 billion in assets under management as of the latest filings, Fundsmith continues to pare back its portfolio to maintain concentration in his top conviction stocks. One notable move was in Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction), where the fund reduced its stake by over 44% in the fourth quarter, selling about 2.8 million shares of the class A stock. But with the stock facing headwinds, should investors follow his lead?

Alphabet’s Hot Streak Ends Abruptly Alphabet had been dominating the market in early 2026, building on its 66% gain in 2025. However, the momentum reversed following Anthropic’s Jan. 30 announcement of 11 open-source plugins for its Claude Cowork AI platform. This triggered what analysts called the “SaaS-pocalypse,” a broad sell-off in software-as-a-service stocks driven by fears that AI agents could erode traditional SaaS value propositions by automating workflows and reducing the need for human-managed tools.

While SaaS names like Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) and Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) were hit hardest, the contagion spread to other tech stocks, including Alphabet. Alphabet’s decline accelerated after its Feb. 4 fourth quarter earnings report, which showed strong results: revenue rose 18% to $113.8 billion, and net income increased 30% to $34.5 billion. Google Cloud revenue surged 48% to $17.7 billion, fueled by AI infrastructure demand. 

Despite these positives, the stock dropped sharply due to guidance for 2026 capital expenditures of $175 billion to $185 billion — nearly double the 2025 level — to support AI investments. Investors worried about rising costs and potential margin pressure.

As a result, Alphabet shares fell about 11% in the two weeks following its all-time high of $349 per share. The stock is now down roughly 5% year-to-date as of mid-February, trading around $298 per share.

Timing the Sale: Prescient or Premature? Smith’s reduction in Alphabet occurred during the stock’s meteoric rise in 2025, when shares climbed from around $243 in September to $313 by year-end. By trimming in the fourth quarter, he locked in gains before the current downturn, appearing prescient amid the AI-driven market shakeup. The SaaS-pocalypse amplified concerns that AI could disrupt Alphabet’s core search and advertising dominance — despite its own massive AI investments — as plugins like those from Anthropic enable more automated, agentic workflows that might bypass traditional interfaces.

Yet, the market — and perhaps Smith — may be overlooking Alphabet’s long-term strengths. The company’s Q4 results highlighted robust growth in AI-powered services, with Google Cloud’s 48% surge reflecting enterprise demand for AI infrastructure and solutions. Alphabet’s massive capex plans signal confidence in capturing AI opportunities, including models like Gemini, which processes over 10 billion tokens per minute. Annual revenues exceeded $400 billion for the first time, with YouTube surpassing $60 billion in ads and subscriptions. 

Analysts project 14% revenue growth in 2026, and the stock trades at 30 times forward earnings, reasonable for its scale. While short-term AI fears remain, Alphabet’s ecosystem positions it to benefit from the same trends pressuring SaaS peers.

Key Takeaway Investors shouldn’t blindly follow any billionaire investor, even one likened to Warren Buffett, as individual strategies and time horizons differ. However, when they make a move — whether it’s a buy or sell — it should prompt a review of your own investment thesis. 

Given Alphabet’s strong Q4 performance, AI momentum, and growth trajectory, the recent pullback appears overdone. Alphabet stock is not a sell now; investors should at least hold, and better, view the dip as a potential entry point for long-term appreciation.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In REGENXBIO To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in REGENXBIO between February 9, 2022 and January 27, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against REGENXBIO Inc. (“REGENXBIO” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: RGNX) and reminds investors of the April 14, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose material adverse facts concerning the efficacy and safety of its RGX-111 trial study.

On January 28, 2026, REGENXBIO issued a press release “announc[ing] that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a clinical hold on its investigational gene therapy, RGX-111, for the treatment of MPS I, also known as Hurler syndrome, following preliminary analysis of a single case of neoplasm (intraventricular CNS tumor) in a participant treated in its Phase I/II study.” The press release also disclosed that “[t]he FDA also placed a clinical hold on RGX-121, for the treatment of MPS II, also known as Hunter Syndrome, citing the similarities in products, study populations, and shared risk between the clinical studies.”

On this news, REGENXBIO's stock price fell $2.40 per share, or 17.9%, to close at $11.01 per share on January 28, 2026.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding REGENXBIO’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the REGENXBIO class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/RGNX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c46f8225-99fd-43ae-b90f-feda2b5ec5ec

As record-breaking metals prices collide with enforcement-driven markets, SMX is a low-float name investors may want to revisit.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / SMX (Security Matters) (NASDAQ:SMX; SMXWW) is emerging as a small-cap infrastructure story at a moment when gold has surged above $5,500 and silver trades near historic highs. As geopolitical risk, anticipated U.S. rate cuts, and persistent currency pressure drive capital back into hard assets, the precious metals rally of 2026 is taking on a different character than past cycles. This time, the move isn't just about scarcity or safe-haven demand - it's about verification. Today, precious metals are no longer valued on scarcity alone; they are being judged on proof - proof of origin, custody, recycled content, and ESG compliance. In a world where trust is audited instead of assumed, infrastructure that verifies authenticity becomes just as important as the metal itself. That's where SMX (Security Matters) (NASDAQ:SMX; SMXWW) enters the conversation - not as a mining play or ETF proxy, but as what could become the verification backbone of a new metals economy.

Then there's the market dynamic that adds fuel to the story. As of early 2026, SMX reportedly has a low public float of roughly 1 million shares following significant restructuring and dilution in late 2025 - a setup that can amplify volatility. Low-float stocks don't need massive capital inflows to move; they need attention. Add to that the company's January 22, 2026 announcement that it entered the year fully financed through the end of Q1 2027 - including utilization and restructuring of up to $100 million in equity capacity - and the financial overhang that often pressures small caps appears temporarily reduced. When record-breaking gold and silver prices converge with tightening regulatory enforcement, and when a small-cap NASDAQ company is already built for that shift, it creates an interesting asymmetry.

What makes SMX compelling, in my view, is that it isn't selling hype - it's building infrastructure. The company's patented molecular identity technology embeds an invisible, chemical-based barcode directly into materials like gold and silver, linking them to blockchain-backed digital identities. That identity remains with the material through refining, recycling, custody transfers, and resale - eliminating reliance on paper trails or reconstructed narratives. Silver, one of the most tightly regulated and custody-sensitive metals in the world, serves as a proving ground for this technology. Meanwhile, gold faces mounting global scrutiny around ethical sourcing, carbon impact, and recycled content mandates. SMX's platform was designed for enforcement-heavy markets, not marketing-friendly ones. And unlike single-use compliance tools, its technology scales horizontally across plastics, textiles, electronics, agriculture, and non-ferrous metals - positioning it within what many estimate to be a $4.5 trillion circular economy opportunity.

If metals continue their historic run and verification becomes mandatory rather than optional, SMX may not just participate - it may rebound toward higher levels as infrastructure plays often do once the market recognizes their necessity.

Contact:
Sofia Vida
[email protected]

Disclaimer and Disclosure

This content reflects the personal opinions of the author and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. The author is an independent, self-employed writer and is not a licensed broker, dealer, or registered investment adviser. Nothing contained in this article should be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

This article may contain forward-looking statements, opinions, and speculative commentary that involve risks and uncertainties. Investing in publicly traded securities - particularly small-cap or low-float stocks - carries a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of your entire investment. Readers should conduct their own independent research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

The author may receive compensation for creating and publishing sponsored content related to certain companies discussed. Any such compensation constitutes a conflict of interest. The author does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented and undertakes no obligation to update this content. By reading this article, you agree that you are solely responsible for your own investment decisions.

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

The fund boosts crypto exposure through strategic investment in BlackRock's flagship Bitcoin fund.

Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund focused on global investments across technology and financial services, expanded its position in iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 46% in Q4 2025, according to a recent filing with the SEC.

As of December 31, Mubadala held around 12.7 million IBIT shares valued at over $630 million at the time of reporting. This represents an uptick from the 8.7 million shares held in Q3.

IBIT, managed by BlackRock, provides institutional and retail investors with regulated exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements through shares traded on conventional stock exchanges.

Despite recent volatility, mainly linked to Bitcoin’s price movements, the fund continues to dominate the Bitcoin ETF market with $52.4 billion in assets under management as of February 13.

Mubadala decided to double down on IBIT while a number of institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Harvard Management Company, reduced their exposure amid a challenging crypto market environment.

ZeroLend winds down operations citing revenue collapse and loss of support on inactive chains as ZERO plunges toward $0. ZeroLend winds down operations, citing revenue collapse and inactive chains.

An independent crypto analyst argues that pitting XRP against Hedera misses how institutions actually adopt blockchain.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: February 17, 2026 │ 5:44 PM GMT

An independent crypto analyst is pushing back against one of retail’s favorite debates: whether XRP or Hedera will “win” institutional adoption.

In a recent explainer video, analyst T-Bone argues that framing XRP and HBAR as rivals in a cage match misses how large institutions actually build systems, and why the real battle is between vertically integrated stacks and modular infrastructure.

Not “Which Token Wins?” but “Which Risk Gets Managed?”The commentator says retail investors compare tokens as if they’re interchangeable, obsessing over speed, fees, or decentralization. Institutions, by contrast, “compare risk categories.” They ask what a system lets them prove, what it lets them settle, which compliance controls exist, and what happens when something breaks.

Sponsored

Within that lens, XRP and Hedera sit in different lanes. Ripple’s ecosystem, as described by T-Bone, is steadily widening into a vertically integrated stack: institutional custody, prime brokerage via Ripple Prime, corporate treasury tools, a regulated stablecoin product, and cross-border payment rails. The center of gravity is clear—money movement and settlement.

Hedera, on the other hand, is framed as an “enterprise-grade trust primitive” platform.

T-Bone points to concrete elements: Hedera Consensus Service (a “decentralized notary” for timestamps and ordering), Hedera Token Service (native tokenization without custom smart contracts), and Stablecoin Studio (tooling for compliant stablecoin issuance with proof-of-reserves patterns. These are coordination and verification tools first, not global liquidity rails.

Vertical Stacks vs. Modular PlumbingThe video zooms out to a more structural question: will institutional finance converge on a few end-to-end vendors, or remain modular by design? A Ripple-style vertical stack offers “one throat to choke” and fewer integration headaches—custody, issuance, liquidity, settlement, and reporting under one roof.

A modular world looks different.

Institutions split functions across providers, use separate networks for coordination and settlement, and keep redundancy for governance, regulatory, and resilience reasons. In that model, an enterprise might quietly use something like Hedera Consensus Service to anchor audit trails and workflows, while using a separate settlement rail for the actual movement of value—without any official partnership announcement.

The analyst stresses that both outcomes are plausible and can coexist: Ripple can keep building an end-to-end settlement stack while Hedera deepens its role in verification and tokenization. Procurement processes, regulatory requirements, and integration costs—not social media arguments—will determine which architectures dominate.

For investors, the takeaway is less about picking a single “RWA winner” and more about understanding where each asset sits in the institutional stack: XRP as a bet on vertically integrated settlement infrastructure, HBAR as exposure to enterprise coordination and trust primitives in a modular future.

Delve into DailyCoin’s popular crypto news today:
XLM Or XRP? SWIFT’s Big Blockchain Choice Deciphered
Harvard Adds Millions in ETH, Trims BTC Holdings

People Also Ask:Is the video financial advice?

It is not. Namely, the host repeatedly states the content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and urges viewers to do their own research.

Does the analyst predict XRP and Hedera will partner?

The analyst explicitly avoids that claim and instead describe architectures where institutions integrate multiple networks on their own.

Does the video say one of XRP or HBAR will win?

It argues that “XRP vs. HBAR” is the wrong framing and that both can be relevant at different layers of institutional infrastructure.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

100% Bullish

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Journalist

Posted: February 17, 2026

A major whale deposited $3.16 million in USDC into Hyperliquid while expanding exposure to XMR across multiple wallets.

Since mid-January, the entity has accumulated 7,189 XMR and placed limit bids between $250 and $315 worth $1.47 million. The move reflected deliberate positioning.

Onchain Lens reported the wallet activity on the 16th of February.

Source: X

Meanwhile, aggressive sellers continued pressing market orders across spot venues. At press time, XMR traded at $337.52, down 0.81% on the 4-hour session.

That divergence set up tension between the taker sell pressure and quiet limit absorption.

Range tightens below $360 XMR traded inside a defined range after its macro decline from above $700 toward the $300 region.

On the 4-hour chart, the price oscillated between roughly $290 support and $360 resistance. Reactions occurred repeatedly at both levels.

Buyers defended the lower boundary. Sellers capped advances near the upper ceiling. This compression signaled volatility contraction inside respected horizontal levels.

At the time of writing, the price hovered near $336, positioning mid-range and limiting immediate directional bias.

However, repeated range defenses often build latent energy before liquidity resolves the structure.

The RSI printed 50.10, while its moving average tracked 44.38. Momentum appeared balanced. Bearish pressure cooled after RSI rebounded from lower territory.

Source: TradingView

Taker selling dominates XMR despite absorption The 90-day Spot Taker CVD continued to show sell-side dominance, confirming that aggressive market participants still hit bids rather than lift offers. 

This persistent negative delta signals ongoing distribution pressure across spot markets. However, price does not collapse below the $290 support zone despite the sustained selling. 

This divergence suggests that passive limit buyers absorb supply effectively beneath the surface. 

The whale’s structured accumulation between $250 and $315 reinforces this absorption narrative. 

When aggressive sellers dominate flow yet fail to force breakdowns, exhaustion often develops. 

As a result, the clash between visible sell pressure and hidden demand increases the likelihood of a sudden directional expansion once one side loses control.

Liquidity clusters threaten sharp moves for XMR  The Liquidation Heatmap revealed dense leverage clusters around $320 and another significant concentration above $350, forming clear volatility trigger zones. 

At the time of writing, liquidation leverage near $321.89 reached approximately 135.29K, highlighting heavy positioning in that region. 

If price dips toward $320, cascading long liquidations could accelerate downside movement sharply. 

Conversely, a breakout above $350 would threaten stacked shorts and could fuel a squeeze. Price traded between these clusters, increasing structural tension.

Once either zone triggered, forced liquidations could amplify volatility quickly.

Accumulation before expansion? Monero [XMR] sat at the intersection of whale accumulation, neutral RSI conditions, and heavy leverage clusters.

Taker selling persisted, yet structural support held.

Meanwhile, a large wallet continued scaling exposure methodically. That alignment suggested mounting tension inside compression.

A sustained hold above $290 could favor upside liquidity activation. However, failure to absorb further selling would tilt control back to the bears.

The next decisive move may resolve this range compression.

Final Summary Monero’s structured limit bids between $250 and $315 suggest deliberate absorption rather than momentum chasing. XMR traded near $337 within a tight $290–$360 range, while the Binance XMR/USDT Liquidation Heatmap showed dense leverage clusters around $320 and above $350.

Bitcoin price is once again stuck below the psychological $70,000 level, and the price action is starting to feel compressed.

After multiple attempts to reclaim the $69,500–$70,000 zone, BTC continues to face rejection. The repeated failures have increased short-term selling pressure, while leverage builds on both sides of the market. Open interest remains elevated, and funding has begun to shift, a sign that traders are positioning aggressively for the next move.

When leverage expands during tight consolidation, volatility usually follows. The real question now is simple: Will BTC price sweep liquidity below $65,000 first or break higher and squeeze shorts toward $75,000?

Bitcoin Liquidation Map Shows Heavy Liquidity at $65K and $72K–$75KThe Bitcoin exchange liquidation map reveals two major liquidity clusters: a dense long liquidation zone near $65,000–$64,000, and a growing short liquidation pocket between $72,000 and $75,000. Currently trading around $67,000–$68,000, BTC is sitting between these two liquidity pools, effectively trapped in what traders call a “liquidity sandwich.”

Source: XMarkets tend to move toward the nearest and largest liquidity cluster first. In this case, the heavier and closer pool sits below the current price. That increases the probability of a move toward $65K to trigger long liquidations before any sustained rebound. However, once that liquidity is absorbed, the path toward the upside cluster opens, especially if short positions begin to stack above $70K. This setup favors volatility expansion in both directions.

Bitcoin Price Chart: Key Levels to WatchOn the short-term price chart, Bitcoin has already lost the 0.382 Fibonacci level near $67,200, indicating weakening momentum. The next technical level sits at 0.5 retracement: $65,700 and 0.618 retracement: $64,300. These align closely with the liquidation cluster below, reinforcing the idea that a sweep toward the $65K zone is technically and structurally reasonable.

So far, BTC continues to print lower highs on the intraday timeframe. That keeps the short-term structure tilted bearish unless the price reclaims $70,000 with conviction.

In simple terms:

Below $70K, sellers remain activeBelow $67K, downside liquidity becomes vulnerableBelow $65K, cascade risk increasesBullish Scenario: Liquidity Sweep Followed by a Short Squeeze Toward $75KIn the bullish case, Bitcoin first drops toward $65,000, triggering long liquidations and absorbing downside liquidity. If buyers step in aggressively at that level and funding resets, BTC could rebound sharply. A reclaim of $70,000 would likely trap late shorts and open the door toward the $72K–$75K short liquidation cluster.

A squeeze through $72K could accelerate momentum quickly, potentially pushing BTC toward $75,000 before facing fresh resistance. This scenario depends on strong spot buying near $65K, stabilizing open interest and short build-up above $70K.

Bearish Scenario: Breakdown Below $65K Extends the CorrectionIf $65,000 fails to hold, the setup changes materially. A decisive break below $64,000 (0.618 Fib) could trigger a deeper liquidation cascade. In that case, Bitcoin may extend toward the $62,000–$60,000 support region.

For this bearish continuation to unfold, selling pressure must remain persistent, and open interest would need to decline further without meaningful absorption. That would invalidate the short-squeeze thesis, at least temporarily.

Final Outlook: Bitcoin at a Liquidity Decision PointBitcoin is not trending cleanly right now; it is compressing between major liquidity zones. The market is building leverage on both sides, and that usually precedes sharp moves. The liquidation map suggests $65K is the nearest magnet. What happens there will likely determine whether the BTC price rallies toward $75K or slides into a deeper correction.

For now, $70,000 remains the immediate barrier, and $65,000 is the level that could trigger the next wave of volatility.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

The Bitcoin “buy zone” meme just got real again, here’s what it means in the ETF eraA certain kind of Bitcoin post shows up right on schedule. It usually arrives right after price stops feeling fun.

This week it came from PricedinBTC, dressed up as a neat table titled “Forward Returns by Drawdown Level.”

The headline numbers do the heavy lifting, buying at a 50% drawdown supposedly delivers around a 90% win rate over the next year, with average returns near 125%. The caption ends with “LOCK IN,” the kind of line that sounds like advice and reads like a challenge.

Bitcoin returns from drawdowns (Source: PriceinBTC)People share these charts for the same reason they bookmark workout plans. Drawdowns scramble the brain, even for holders who swear they feel nothing. A clean rule offers relief, a line in the sand, a way to act without re-living the whole debate every time the price ticks down.

This one is circulating at a moment when the math sits close to the meme. Bitcoin has been trading around the high $60,000s, and the last peak still hangs over the market. That puts the drawdown in the mid-40% range, close enough that sustained pressure can push it into the minus-50% bucket.

The chart makes the dip feel like a destination, and history offers comfort. The same history also carries a warning label. Research from iShares notes four drawdowns greater than 50% since 2014, the three largest averaged around an 80% decline, and recoveries took close to three years in three out of four cases.

That gap between “one year later” and “living through it” is where a lot of confidence gets tested. Today, that test runs through new plumbing, spot ETFs, rate expectations, the dollar, and options hedging, all visible in real time.

The minus 50% line feels like a promise, and it sits closeUsing the last peak above $126,000 as the reference point, the levels land in familiar places. Minus 50% is around $63,000, minus 60% is around $50,000, and minus 70% is around $38,000. With bitcoin near $68,000, the first line sits within a few thousand dollars.

That proximity turns a number into a plan. Some people start stacking cash, waiting for the tag. Some buy early to avoid missing it. Some freeze when it finally arrives, because the move down feels louder than the chart looked on their screen.

The meme works as a psychological tool because it compresses chaos into a simple trigger.

The lived experience expands again the moment the trigger hits, and the drawdown keeps moving. The iShares drawdown history matters here, because it frames a deeper truth, many “winning” entries still came with a long stretch of doubt, and sometimes a much deeper slide, before the recovery showed up.

Winning with Bitcoin isn't quite as simple as buying Bitcoin early. Anyone who has been around for over a decade has at least one story about a time they sold too early. I certainly do. I have a 7-figure HDMI cable lying around somewhere that I bought using Dogecoin in 2014.

ETFs turned the dip into a daily receiptSpot Bitcoin ETFs added a scoreboard that everyone can watch, every day. US spot bitcoin ETFs held roughly 1.265 million BTC as of market close on Feb. 13, with AUM around $87 billion.

That scale changes how drawdowns travel through the market. A large wrapper can support price during calm periods, and it can also amplify selling pressure when flows turn negative, because the shift becomes visible, measurable, and easy to follow.

There's been roughly 55,665 BTC in net outflows over the last 30 days, a multi-billion dollar swing at prevailing prices. That kind of drain can keep price heavy even when social feeds stay full of “buy zone” confidence.

It also gives dip buyers a new confirmation tool, flow stabilization, because capitulation often shows up as outflows slowing, flattening, and eventually reversing.

Rates and inflation shape the opportunity costA lot of the next chapter of Bitcoin depends on macroeconomic conditions that feel unglamorous: yields, inflation prints, and how investors price risk across the board.

The Federal Reserve held its target range at 3.50% to 3.75% in late January. Inflation has also been easing, with US inflation at 2.4% in January, a data point that feeds rate cut expectations and shift risk appetite.

Cross-market proxies help frame that mood. The S&P 500 proxy SPY gives a read on broad risk appetite, long-duration Treasuries via TLT reflect the rate backdrop, and gold through GLD captures the defensive bid.

When those markets lean toward safety and yield, Bitcoin drawdowns often feel heavier, and when the mood shifts toward easing conditions, dip buying tends to find more oxygen.

Options markets are pricing a wide laneThe viral table feels calm on the page, and the options market tends to speak in wider ranges. On Unusual Whales, Bitcoin options show an implied move of about 6.66% into Feb. 20, with implied volatility around 0.5656.

High implied moves affect behavior in obvious ways. Dip buyers want clean levels and fast confirmation. Hedgers stay active when uncertainty stays elevated.

Short-term swings become part of the baseline, which can turn the minus 50% line into a waypoint rather than a floor.

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That loops back to the long drawdown record from iShares, because big recoveries often came with messy paths and long timelines.

A drawdown strategy lives or dies on whether the buyer can handle the path, not simply the endpoint.

Three lanes for the next chapter, with levels people can watchThe cleanest way to frame the near term is as conditional lanes, each tied to signals anyone can track.

In a grinding base case, Bitcoin holds the low to mid $60,000s, the market churns, ETF outflows slow toward flat, and volatility cools. The flow tape becomes the tell here, because shrinking 30-day outflows usually signal fading sell pressure.In a liquidity turns friendly case, inflation keeps easing, rate cut expectations firm up, and risk appetite improves across markets. ETF flows flip positive and stay positive, which can pull bitcoin back toward the prior highs.In a deeper capitulation case, outflows continue, macro turns risk off, and bitcoin slides through the minus-50 % line toward the $50,000 zone, with pressure that can extend to deeper drawdown levels.The buy zone meme offers a simple story, and the market offers conditions. The useful version of this chart sits next to the real-time scoreboard, the ETF flow tape, the rates backdrop, and the uncertainty gauge.

That is the real human-interest angle in this cycle: the emotional urge for a clean rule and the institutional mechanics that now shape how that rule plays out in real time.

Strategic dollar cost averaging and market timingHistorically, this part of the cycle is a great time to buy Bitcoin. However, as I've stated multiple times in my analysis over the last 8 months, “this time is different.”

We can legitimately question the four-year cycle theory; we have 6% of the supply held by US ETF funds, and corporate treasuries have exploded.

This is not the same Bitcoin market as 2012, 2016, 2020, or even 2024.

Personally, I'm too emotional a trader, so I stopped trying to time the market years ago.

One methodology that removes the risk involved with trying to time the market is the strategic DCA.

You purchase BTC every day, but send slightly more BTC to exchanges than the daily buy. That leaves a surplus of cash that grows over time. Then, when Bitcoin falls to a price that looks cheap, you have some funds available to buy the dip. You've already allocated those funds to Bitcoin; you just haven't pulled the trigger until a dip. That way, you get the benefit of DCA smoothing, augmented by heavier allocations during drawdowns.

Historically, Bitcoin rarely stays below a previous cycle's all-time high for long. At $68,000, we're right on the money for 2021. In 2022, Bitcoin dipped below the 2017 all-time high for around 30 days before starting its three-year climb to $126,000.

Bitcoin price history (Source: Bitbo)Again, none of this is designed to be individual investment advice, and there is risk involved with any investment. However, this article touches on some of the things Bitcoin investors should consider when deciding when, if, and how to increase their Bitcoin allocations in their portfolios, in my opinion.

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Key takeaways:

Bitcoin’s futures funding rates briefly turned negative, signaling that bullish traders currently lack the conviction to use leverage.

Uncertainty regarding the long-term profitability of artificial intelligence has pushed investors toward gold and US government bonds.

Bitcoin (BTC) failed to reclaim the $70,000 level on Tuesday following a retraction in the S&P 500 futures. Traders are concerned that investments in the artificial intelligence sector could take longer to mature, which pressured shares of Nvidia (NVDA US), Apple (AAPL US), and Google (GOOGL US) on Friday. Bearishness in Bitcoin futures became apparent, leading traders to fear further downside.

Bitcoin futures annualized funding rate. Source: Laevitas.chThe annualized BTC futures funding rate briefly flipped negative on Monday, indicating a lack of demand for leveraged long positions. Under neutral conditions, this indicator typically ranges between 6% and 12%; consequently, a lack of conviction from bulls has been the norm for the past week. The recent dominance of precious metals has also contributed to the disappointment of Bitcoin investors.

Bitcoin/USD vs. silver, gold, S&P 500 futures. Source: TradingViewSilver and gold emerged as clear winners over the past two months while the stock market entered a consolidation period. Gains in the tech sector have come to a standstill as some analysts argue that valuations have become excessive, while others claim efficiency gains from AI are finally paying off. Regardless of the outcome, investors sought protection in government bonds.

US dollar strength index (left) vs. US 10-year Treasury yield (right). Source: TradingviewYields on the 10-year US Treasury declined to their lowest levels since November 2025, signaling that demand for these bonds has increased. This trend does not necessarily reflect higher confidence in the Federal Reserve’s strategy to avoid a recession without fueling inflation. In fact, the US dollar has weakened against a basket of foreign currencies, as reflected in the DXY index.

Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, reportedly stated on Friday that revenues from AI investments are unlikely to pay off in the next couple of years. According to Fortune, he warned that spending massive amounts to build data centers quickly could be "ruinous." 

Amodei also noted that delivering $10 trillion of compute by mid-2027 is impossible due to capacity constraints. This uncertainty in the tech sector has pushed investors toward more risk-averse behavior.

Bitcoin options market stabilizes as macroeconomic uncertainty lingersDemand for neutral-to-bearish strategies using BTC options has stagnated over the past week. The panic following the unexpected crash to $60,200 on Feb. 6 has largely subsided, yet traders are still far from flipping bullish.

Deribit BTC put-to-call options ratio. Source: Laevitas.chThe BTC options put-to-call ratio at Deribit stood at 0.8x on Monday, indicating balanced demand between put (sell) and call (buy) instruments. This data contrasts sharply with the 1.5x ratio seen last Wednesday, a level typically deemed bearish. While it will likely take a couple of weeks for bulls to regain full confidence, Bitcoin derivatives metrics currently show no signs of panic among market participants.

Traders may have opted to act more cautiously, choosing to take profits after Bitcoin flirted with the $70,000 mark. This caution was amplified as both the US and Chinese markets were closed for holidays on Monday. There is no clear indication that Bitcoin is bound for further downside based solely on the negative BTC futures funding rate. However, establishing sustainable bullish momentum will likely depend on a reduction in macroeconomic uncertainty.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

TL;DR

The TON Foundation partnered with Banxa and OSL Group to launch stablecoin payments aimed at small and medium-sized businesses across Asia-Pacific. The integration connects Banxa’s fiat-to-crypto rails with The Open Network and enables B2B payments, cross-border transfers, and customer checkout flows directly on the TON blockchain. The system follows the release of the TON Pay SDK for Telegram, which settles in under one second and charges fees below $0.01. The TON Foundation signed a partnership with Banxa, a company owned by OSL Group, to deploy a regulated stablecoin payment infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises across Asia-Pacific.

The integration combines Banxa’s fiat-crypto on- and off-ramps with The Open Network’s settlement layer. Businesses can send and receive payments directly in stablecoins without relying on traditional banking rails. The system includes conversions between local currencies and digital assets within the same operational flow.

Blockchain Payments Between Businesses The setup enables on-chain B2B settlements, cross-market international transfers, and consumer-to-merchant payments. The operations target thousands of SMEs engaged in a wide range of regional commercial activities. Processing occurs on the blockchain while fiat conversion is handled through Banxa’s infrastructure.

Banxa operates under a global framework with more than 40 licenses and registrations across the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the APAC region. That coverage allows stablecoin payment flows to meet local regulatory requirements across multiple markets.

TON Continues Expanding Its Ecosystem The agreement follows the launch of the TON Pay payment SDK just days ago, designed for Telegram mini apps. The toolkit delivers sub-second settlement and fees below $0.01.

OSL’s network includes merchants and financial institutions. The firm raised about $500 million between 2025 and early 2026 to expand its payment and stablecoin infrastructure. Banxa provides embedded crypto solutions to more than 400 companies globally.

Companies such as Bloxcross and Shift4 already process payments on the network. The integration between TON and Banxa will broaden the commercial use of the infrastructure toward enterprise and cross-border operations across the region. OSL’s regulatory coverage allows the system to expand into jurisdictions beyond Asia-Pacific

A leading market analyst says the crypto market may be heading into a short-term rebound, but investors should still prepare for a potentially volatile period ahead. According to the latest technical outlook by Gareth Soloway, cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP could see a temporary recovery rally before the market decides its longer-term direction.

Bitcoin May See a Short-Term Relief RallyThe analyst explained that Bitcoin recently formed a classic bearish structure after falling sharply from its previous highs, followed by a consolidation phase and another drop. However, recent price action is now showing signs of a bullish consolidation pattern, which typically appears when buyers begin accumulating during periods of fear.

Because of this setup, Bitcoin could attempt a near-term rebound toward the $80,000–$85,000 zone, where strong resistance is expected. If the market manages to break above that area, the next upside levels could extend toward the $90,000–$95,000 range, though such a move would require stronger market momentum.

The analyst said that Bitcoin continues to move closely with the technology stock sector, which is currently undergoing a deleveraging phase. 

Ethereum Likely to Follow the Market DirectionEthereum and most large-cap altcoins typically follow Bitcoin’s trend cycles. This means Ethereum could also participate in a short-term recovery rally if Bitcoin stabilizes, but its long-term performance will depend largely on whether the broader market establishes a clear bottom.

In the short term, however, Ethereum is also forming a bullish consolidation zone, suggesting the possibility of a relief rally. The analyst sees potential for a move back toward the $2,600 area, which represents the lower boundary of the previous consolidation region.

Historically, crypto markets have experienced large drawdowns during cycle transitions, often followed by extended consolidation before the next major rally begins. 

XRP Faces a Key Resistance TestFor XRP, the technical picture remains more uncertain. The asset recently broke below an important support level and then attempted a bounce, only to face rejection near a critical resistance zone around $1.78. According to the analyst, XRP bulls must push the price back above this resistance area to regain upside momentum.

If XRP successfully moves above this level, it could attempt to break the current downward trend line and stabilize. However, failure to reclaim resistance may keep the asset trading under pressure along with the broader altcoin market.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

TL;DR

ORCA rallied more than 62% to a one-month high above $1.62 as a short squeeze liquidated about $1.83M in shorts. Summaries pointed to whale buying and sudden Upbit trader interest, turning forced buybacks into the main source of demand. Volume topped $182M in 24 hours and open interest hit a six-month high above $23M, keeping focus on whether follow-through demand holds or if volatility mean-reverts once the squeeze premium fades. ORCA bucked a soft crypto tape with an outsized move that forced the market to reprice positioning in real time. This rally looked like flow first and narrative second as shorts were caught offside. Search summaries reported a mix of whale buying and a short squeeze, with about $1.83 million in short positions liquidated over the past 24 hours. ORCA also rallied more than 62% on the day and tagged a one-month high above $1.62, while interest from Upbit traders helped amplify the churn. The divergence turned a quiet alt into a focus name overnight.

Short squeeze dynamics reset the risk map The setup, as described, built quietly before it detonated. A gradual drift lower can attract shorts, then a single reversal turns risk controls into buy orders. ORCA had been unwinding in line with the broader market, which let bearish positioning accumulate. When bids arrived, forced buybacks became the fastest source of incremental demand, compressing spreads and accelerating price discovery. In that environment, execution quality depends less on conviction and more on liquidity depth and latency across venues. Traders watching Upbit flows and on-chain pools saw how quickly momentum can migrate when liquidations start anywhere simultaneously.

Liquidity data in the summaries reinforces the idea that the move was not just a headline pop. Rising participation can validate a breakout, but it can also reflect stress-driven turnover. ORCA posted its highest trading volumes since December, surpassing $182 million over 24 hours. At the same time, open interest for the token reportedly hit a six-month peak above $23 million, a sign that derivatives participation rose alongside spot activity. That combination can sustain volatility even after the initial squeeze fades. It also raises the question of whether new longs are chasing or strategically scaling.

For portfolio managers, the immediate question is what remains after the squeeze premium burns off. The decision point is whether fresh buyers step in once forced covering stops being the dominant bid. If follow-through demand holds, ORCA can transition into a higher range with deeper two-way liquidity and tighter execution. If not, the move can mean-revert quickly, turning late longs into the next liquidity source. Either way, monitoring whale flow, exchange-specific demand, and leverage metrics is now core to the risk playbook. If volatility compresses, risk-on rotation could broaden, but uncertainty remains elevated for now.

A veteran insider’s public doubt about BTC’s core thesis serves a powerful contrarian signal that the market may be nearing a major bottom.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: February 17, 2026 │ 4:44 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

Oscar Ramos, a prominent crypto market commentator, is openly questioning Bitcoin’s core investment thesis for the first time in more than a decade, while arguing that the current wave of doubt may actually mark a major bottom — and a turning point for XRP and other alternative plays.

The host reacts to a post from a well-known “crypto insider” associated with Crypto Banter, who wrote that “for the first time in 12 years, I’m questioning Bitcoin’s thesis.”

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The concern, as summarized in the video, is not the recent draw-down itself, but “how Bitcoin responded when markets [were] genuinely moving to risk.” That shift in tone from a long‑time bull is framed as “the biggest bottom signal ever.”

Bitcoin Doubts Meet XRP ConvictionWhile the insider’s skepticism focuses on Bitcoin’s behavior in a risk‑on environment, the host flips the narrative into a contrarian bullish case. He points out that even after recent volatility, Bitcoin is still trading around the mid‑$60,000s — “you’re telling me that we are [at]… the price is $69,140,” he says — notably higher than early October levels, when “we were much lower.”

Rather than capitulate, the commentator argues that prolonged consolidation, “down bad or boring” price action, and increasingly bearish content from large creators are classic late‑cycle features. “I love when crypto grifters start talking this way” he notes, suggesting that aggressive pessimism from previously bullish voices can be a contrarian buy signal.

Against that backdrop, he doubles down on XRP and Ripple’s ecosystem, describing it as part of “the next financial transformation in history” and stressing there are “many great legit people building in the crypto space.”

The video also references an ongoing 3,000 XRP giveaway and multiple platforms for trading, borrowing, and staking, underscoring the focus on yield and leverage in the current environment.

Macro Lull, Quantum Jitters, and Institutional LimitsOn the macro front, Mr. Ramos notes a perceived lull in U.S. political activity, saying that President Trump appears to be “taking a break a little bit” from signing new executive orders. He suggests that this pause is “putting the market at ease,” which in his view is “not good for even shorts,” implying low volatility and fewer clear trading catalysts.

Regulatory snippets from sources like Watcher Guru and the CFTC are highlighted, including a remark that the agency will no longer “sit idly by” while certain markets are undermined — a line the host connects loosely to prediction and crypto markets.

Oscar Ramos also mentions that some institutional players reportedly cap Bitcoin exposure around 3% of portfolios due to unresolved “quantum computing” risks, referencing an earnings call where Michael Saylor fielded questions on how Bitcoin might respond to advances in quantum tech.

Despite these structural concerns and the lack of full “clarity” on legislation such as the so‑called Clarity Act, Oscar Ramos portrays large asset managers and ETF sponsors, including Ark’s Cathie Wood, as undeterred long‑term buyers who occasionally take profits but remain strategically committed.

For investors, the core message is that mounting frustration, visible doubts from veteran Bitcoin advocates, and a quiet macro tape may be less a reason to abandon crypto than a sign that the cycle is grinding toward a pivotal inflection point — with XRP and lending‑based strategies positioned, in the host’s view, to benefit when sentiment eventually reverses.

Discover DailyCoin’s popular crypto news today:
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Harvard Adds Millions in ETH, Trims BTC Holdings

People Also Ask:Why are some Bitcoin bulls suddenly turning skeptical?

According to the video, at least one long‑time insider is concerned that Bitcoin is not behaving like a true risk asset when markets move into risk‑on mode.

Does the host think it’s time to sell?

Not really. Oscar Ramos interprets the growing skepticism and flat price action as a contrarian bottom signal and argues against panic selling.

What role does XRP play in this outlook?

Ramos sees Ripple & XRP as central to an upcoming “financial transformation” and positions them as a key alternative to Bitcoin in this phase of the market.

How worried are institutions about quantum computing?

The video hints at some institutions limiting Bitcoin allocations to around 3% until quantum security concerns are better understood or addressed.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

100% Bullish

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

In brief BitMine bought 45,759 Ethereum last week, bringing its total to 4.37 million ETH worth $8.68 billion. Chairman Tom Lee remains bullish, expecting 2026 to be a "defining year for Ethereum" driven by tokenization, AI, and layer-2 adoption. Ethereum is down 60% from its 2025 peak, and Myriad users don't expect an imminent rebound. Leading Ethereum treasury company BitMine Immersion Technologies announced Tuesday that it purchased 45,759 ETH last week—currently valued at nearly $91 million—to boost its total stash to 4.37 million ETH, worth $8.68 billion.

While the company has seen the value of its holdings fall substantially in recent months with Ethereum’s 60% plunge from its all-time high mark of $4,946 set last August, BitMine Chairman Tom Lee remains optimistic about the network’s prospects. He expects 2026 to be a “defining year for Ethereum” after attending last week’s Consensus Hong Kong conference.

“We see strengthening product-market fit emerging on the back of three long-duration secular drivers: (i) Wall Street via tokenization/privacy on Ethereum; (ii) AI and AI-agents using Ethereum for both collecting payments as well as verification; and (iii) creators leaning towards 'proof of human' and other standards running on Ethereum layer-2 (Worldchain, etc),” he said in a statement.

“It is evident that Ethereum is well positioned to garner significant share,” Lee added, “given its neutrality and 100% uptime and reliability.”

BitMine’s Ethereum holdings are approximately $7.9 billion underwater, according to data from DropsTab. The publicly traded firm had disclosed its cost basis for Ethereum purchases in a late November filing with the SEC, with estimates used for more recent ETH buys.

The company also holds 193 Bitcoin ($13 million worth) and $670 million in cash. It also recently invested $200 million in Beast Industries, the company of YouTube creator MrBeast. BitMine also invested $17 million into Eightco Holdings, a company focused on amassing Worldcoin, the token of Worldchain and the World human verification platform.

While Lee remains bullish on Ethereum’s future in the wake of its dramatic drawdown, he admitted that bearish vibes have overtaken the market in recent months. Bitcoin remains 46% off its own all-time high mark above $126,000 from October, with most other major cryptocurrencies similarly nursing major drops from their own respective peaks.

"Investor sentiment and enthusiasm, by contrast, are rock bottom, reminding us of the forlornness and dejection seen at the November 2022 lows and depths of 2018 crypto winter,” Lee said, noting that there haven’t been high-profile company closures as there were in 2022. “Rather, it seems like crypto has remained weak since the 'price shock' and massive deleveraging seen on October 10.”

Users on Myriad—a prediction market operated by Decrypt's parent company, Dastan—remain bearish on Ethereum's prospects ahead, penciling in a 68% chance that ETH will fall from its current price of about $1,990 to $1,500 sooner than it can rise back to $3,000.

Even with the flagging sentiment, BitMine keeps buying.

“We cannot control the price of Ethereum, and the company is acquiring ETH regardless of price trend, as the long-term outlook for Ethereum remains outstanding,” Lee added. “Hence, we continue to buy ETH even as crypto moves through this 'mini-winter.’”

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Pi Coin Price Hits Breakout Target as Sentiment Improves — Is Another 60% Move Coming? Prefer us on Google

Pi Coin completes breakout as sentiment rebounds from near-zero levelsDip buying persists despite pullback after breakout target completionKey resistance level now decides whether Pi Coin triggers a larger 60% rallyPi Coin price has gone through a sharp roller-coaster-like move over the past month. Between Jan. 14 and Feb. 11, Pi Coin fell nearly 38% as sentiment collapsed and sellers dominated. But the trend reversed quickly. Since Feb. 11, Pi Coin surged as much as 58% before correcting again.

Now, sentiment is improving once more for the Pi Network’s native token, and charts show this correction may not be a reversal. Instead, it could be preparation for the next breakout. Momentum, money flow, and price structure now explain why a much larger 60% move may still be possible.

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Sentiment Collapse and Recovery Explain Pi Coin’s Roller-Coaster MoveInvestor sentiment played a key role in Pi Coin’s recent volatility. Positive sentiment, which measures how optimistic investors feel based on social and market data, dropped sharply between December and early February. The sentiment score fell from 9.06 in early December to nearly zero by Feb. 4.

Pi Network Sentiment: SantimentWant more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

This collapse aligned with Pi Coin’s earlier range-bound move and the 38% price decline post Jan.14.

Erratic Price Action: TradingViewHowever, sentiment began improving again after Feb. 4. By Feb. 17, the score recovered to 3.82, aligning with the sharp price surge between Feb. 11 and Feb. 15 (over 58%). While still below earlier highs, this sentiment rebound, both before and after the rally, shows confidence is slowly returning.

This shift helps explain why Pi Coin quickly reversed its downtrend and began recovering. But the recovery itself was not random. It followed a precise technical breakout.

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Breakout Pattern Completed, But Dip Buyers Still Active?Pi Coin formed an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, a bullish structure that signals a trend reversal after a decline. This pattern completed on Feb. 14 and pushed Pi Coin up roughly 26% toward its $0.206 level.

This level acted as the breakout target, and once reached, many traders took profits. This explains the large upper wick and the sharp pullback that followed. However, the Money Flow Index (MFI) tells a deeper story. The MFI measures buying and selling pressure by combining price and volume. When MFI forms higher lows, it possibly indicates that buyers continue to enter on dips.

Despite the correction, PI’s MFI stayed elevated, close enough to its recent local peak. This confirms dip buyers remained active and present even during the pullback.

Previous Breakout Target Hit: TradingViewThis behavior often appears when investors position for another move higher. That raises the next question. Why are buyers still accumulating after the breakout target already completed? The answer appears in Pi Coin’s current price structure.

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Bull Flag and EMA Crossover Show Next Breakout Structure FormingAfter completing its first breakout, Pi Coin entered consolidation, a 19% dip from $0.206. This consolidation is forming a bull flag pattern. A bull flag is a continuation pattern where price pauses briefly before starting another rally.

At the same time, Pi Coin’s Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) are signaling growing strength. The 20-period EMA is now approaching a crossover above the 50-period EMA, a potential bullish crossover. The EMA measures the average price over time, and when shorter-term averages cross above longer-term averages, it signals strengthening momentum.

Pi Coin Breakout Structure: TradingViewThis alignment explains why dip buyers continue entering.

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However, timing is critical. If consolidation continues too long, the pattern could weaken. Bull flags require relatively quick breakouts to remain valid. This urgency also explains why buying pressure has remained steady. All of this now brings attention to Pi Coin’s key breakout levels.

Pi Coin Price Targets 60% Move if Key Breakout Level ClearsThe immediate resistance level sits at $0.184. Pi Coin has tested this level multiple times but has not yet confirmed a breakout.

If Pi Coin closes above $0.184, the next targets are $0.204 and $0.242. The full bull flag projection points toward $0.290, representing a potential 60% rally from the breakout level. However, downside risk remains.

PI Price Analysis: TradingViewIf Pi Coin falls below $0.158, the bull flag pattern would be invalidated. Extended sideways movement could also weaken the setup if consolidation becomes too large relative to the original breakout move. For now, the structure remains intact.

Pi Coin has already completed one breakout. Sentiment is improving. Money flow shows that dip buyers remain active, and the price structure is preparing for another potential breakout. The next confirmed move above resistance will determine whether Pi Coin can complete its larger 60% rally setup.

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In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

On-chain analytics have detected a significant transfer of 46 billion Shiba Inu (SHIB) tokens involving wallets associated with the Kraken exchange. This liquidity adjustment coincides with the Shiba Inu price testing a distinct support floor at the $0.000006 level. Where is the SHIB price prediction pointing?

The timing of the transfer is notable given the current state of momentum indicators. The RSI, a momentum oscillator used to measure the speed and change of price movements, has dipped near the 30 threshold on daily charts. Could be an indication that SHIB is way oversold?

As Kraken continues to expand its institutional infrastructure and capabilities, these routine rebalancing acts can sometimes serve as leading indicators for anticipated volatility in specific assets.

Kraken Cold Wallet Source Arkham

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SHIB Price Prediction: Shiba Inu is Testing a Delicate Support Technical analysis of the daily chart suggests that SHIB is currently navigating a precarious range. SHIB is testing the $0.0000066, a delicate support zone. Breaking this area could send SHIB to new ATLs.

Resistance levels are currently forming near the $0.00001 mark. A decisive close above this level would be required to validate any short-term bullish thesis.

The movement of funds by a major entity like Kraken adds a layer of operational context. The exchange moved approximately $1.15 million worth of SHIB from cold storage to a hot wallet. Such transfers typically signal an exchange preparing for increased trading activity or ensuring sufficient liquidity for client operations.

If the market sentiment deteriorates, the increased liquidity on Kraken could alternatively facilitate selling pressure rather than buying demand. Watch for confirmation signals, such as a breakout above immediate resistance or an uptick in daily trading volume, before assuming a definite trend reversal is underway.

EXPLORE: What is the Next Crypto to Explode in 2026?

SHIB Hits Oversold Territory And MAXI Presale Just Beginning Its Run

While SHIB tests support near $0.000006, with the daily RSI nearing 30 and signaling oversold conditions, institutional rebalancing may increase short-term volatility in established meme assets.

For newer projects, however, the picture looks very different. MAXI DOGE (MAXI), an Ethereum-based meme token that leans into high-leverage trading culture, remains in its early presale stage, where pricing is driven by fundraising milestones rather than open-market demand.

The presale has raised roughly $4.6 million, progressing toward a current stage target near $4.9 million within a broader 50-stage model and a total hard cap of near $15 million. The token is priced near $0.0002804, with scheduled price increases after each stage ends, encouraging early participation.

MAXI DOGE also promotes a staking model with a dynamic APY of around 68%, though rewards decrease as more tokens enter the pool. The team positions staking as a way to reduce immediate sell pressure once trading begins. Additional planned features include futures-style trading integrations and weekly trading competitions that distribute rewards in MAXI and USDT, reinforcing its trader-focused identity.

Unlike SHIB, which reacts to market structure and broader liquidity flows, MAXI DOGE’s valuation currently depends on narrative momentum and presale participation. That creates higher upside potential but also significantly higher risk, especially since listing timelines and long-term demand remain uncertain.

Visit Maxi Doge Here

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Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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Daniel Frances is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. A crypto native since 2017, Daniel leverages his background in on-chain analytics to author evidence-based reports and deep-dive guides. He holds certifications from The Blockchain Council, and is dedicated to providing "information gain" that cuts through market hype to find real-world blockchain utility.

Analysts say Metaplanet's bitcoin-linked income business is becoming critical to funding expansion while avoiding forced BTC sales.

Bitcoin (BTC) price continues to compress under $70,000 on Tuesday, and data suggests that the risk of new year-to-date lows remains a risk if bulls fail to turn the level into support.

The whipsaw nature of Bitcoin’s price surged as US market volatility climbed back above a critical level, and Treasury yields saw their sharpest weekly drop in months.

Analysts suggest this macro backdrop may hint at an extended slowdown phase for BTC price, while onchain data shows traders still waiting for a stronger bullish catalyst.

Key takeaways:

The CBOE Volatility Index at 22.50 signals a rising market volatility and risk-off positioning for investors.

The US 10-year yield is at 4.02%, down 3.75% last week, nearing its 200-day moving average trend for the first time since March 2022.

Why Bitcoin may remain a “risk-off” asset for nowThe CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), which measures the 30-day volatility expectations in US equities, has climbed to 22.50 in 2026 and is approaching its highest level since November 21, 2025.

A rising VIX typically reflects the growing uncertainty and reduced appetite for risk assets, a “risk-off” setup that has historically pressured Bitcoin.

Bitcoin versus VIX correlation chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewFor context, the chart shows a repeated inverse pattern between Bitcoin and the VIX around the 20 level. When the VIX spiked above 20 in December 2024, BTC formed a top at $104,000. A stronger surge above 25 in March through April 2025 aligned with a sharp BTC correction to $80,000. 

Another move above 20 in Q4 aligned with Bitcoin’s cycle high near $126,000, and BTC’s drop below $100,000 also came as the VIX spiked above the threshold. 

At the same time, the US 10-year Treasury yield fell 3.75% last week, its steepest weekly decline since September 2025. Now at 4.02%, the yield is set to retest its 200-period simple moving average (SMA) for the first time since March 2022.

Falling yields reflect defensive positioning across traditional markets, reinforcing the cautious tone.

US 10 YR Yield. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to 7 last week, one of its lowest readings on record. Asset management company Bitwise explained in its weekly newsletter that while extreme fear has aligned with cycle bottoms, BTC’s onchain supply in profit only briefly touched the 50% during the recent sell-off. This level has marked deeper bear market resets in the past.

Stablecoin liquidity growth slows downCryptoQuant data shows that the stablecoin reserves increased by $11.4 billion in the 30 days leading up to November 5, 2025, reflecting strong buying power entering the market.

However, as the bearish phase expanded, stablecoin reserves fell $8.4 billion by December 23, 2025, signaling that capital was moving out.

Stablecoin reserves on exchanges. Source: CryptoQuantOver the past month, the reserves across various exchanges have declined by a modest $2 billion. This marked a slowdown compared to the sharp outflows in Q4, but a lack of significant inflows pointed to restrained liquidity conditions.

Binance dominated exchange liquidity, holding $47.5 billion in USDT and USDC reserves, roughly 65% of total centralized exchange balances, including $42.3 billion in USDT, which is up 36%, year-over-year.

Regarding stablecoin inflows and reserves, crypto analyst Maartunn said USDC inflows to exchanges are trending lower again, indicating that new liquidity has yet to return at scale. 

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.