Market sentiment remains cautious as traders watch key support levels closely
The cryptocurrency market stayed under pressure on February 18, 2026, with most major coins trading lower. Prices slipped across the board as traders remained cautious and overall sentiment looked weak. The global crypto market cap moved down again, showing that buyers are not stepping in strongly at the moment.
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin was trading near $67,000, down more than 1.8% in the last 24 hours. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been struggling to move higher for several days now. Every time it tries to push up, sellers quickly enter the market.
Bitcoin has tested support around the mid-$60,000 area multiple times recently. This shows that the price is under pressure and confidence is not very strong. There have also been large Bitcoin transfers to exchanges, which usually means some holders may be preparing to sell. Not every transfer leads to selling, but it still adds fear to the market.
Despite continued interest from institutions and long-term holders, short-term price action is weak. Traders are monitoring Bitcoin's movements to see if it can stay above key support levels.
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum was trading around $1,997, falling about 0.6% on the day. ETH mostly followed Bitcoin’s movement, which is common during market corrections.
The price zone between $1,800 and $2,200 is still considered important support. Many traders are waiting to see if Ethereum can recover above those levels. Activity in the DeFi sector has slowed a bit, and some short-term holders have been taking profits. This has added selling pressure.
Ethereum’s long-term fundamentals remain stable, but right now the price is reacting more to market sentiment than development news.
Binance Coin (BNB)
Binance Coin was trading close to $618, down more than 2%. BNB's performance was lacking when compared to some other large coins. Trading activity on Binance Smart Chain projects has cooled, and competition from other networks might be affecting interest.
BNB still holds a strong market position, but today’s price action reflects the overall weak mood in crypto markets.
XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin
Other major altcoins also saw losses:
- XRP traded near $1.48, down about 1.4%
- Solana (SOL) hovered around $85, falling roughly 3%
- Dogecoin (DOGE) and TRON (TRX) posted small declines as well
Smaller tokens like Fetch.ai, IOTA, and Elrond dropped between 3% and 10%. Investors are clearly reducing risk, especially in mid-cap and small-cap coins.
Market Sentiment and Trading Activity
Market sentiment is leaning toward fear. A popular crypto sentiment index dropped again, showing that traders are feeling unsure. When fear increases, buying activity usually slows down.
Derivatives trading volumes have also declined. Open interest in futures markets is lower, which means leveraged traders are closing positions. When leverage reduces, big upward moves become harder to sustain.
Large Bitcoin holders, often called whales, have moved coins to exchanges. This sometimes signals upcoming selling. Even if not all coins are sold, such activity creates nervousness in the market.
Overall Outlook
The current crypto market remains cautious and slightly bearish. Bitcoin near $68,000 is the main level traders are watching. If it holds, confidence might slowly return. If it falls lower, more selling could happen.
Ethereum and other altcoins are mostly moving in the same direction as Bitcoin. There is no strong bullish momentum at the moment. The market feels uncertain and is waiting for a clear signal.
Short-term volatility is likely to continue, and prices may remain unstable for some time. The coming days will be important to see if support levels can hold or not. For now, the market is moving carefully, and confidence is not very strong.
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