While the crypto market faces a prolonged decline that started in September of last year, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has become an outlier. In February 2026, BCH broke several important records, highlighting the network's resilience amid increasing uncertainty.
Why do investors continue with BCH? And how can this trend impact the price?
Average transaction value on the BCH network skyrockets
The most significant milestone occurred in February when the average transaction value on the BCH network surpassed $2 million. This level is the highest since the Bitcoin network fork in 2017.
By comparison, the average transaction value of BCH in the previous year hovered around $20,000. The new number indicates a growth of 100 times.
Historical data indicates that jumps in the average transaction value typically preceded significant price increases, as seen in 2018 and 2021. The new record suggests a possible return of large investors to the market.
Another significant data point highlights the relative strength of BCH even in the face of widespread fear: the Bitcoin Cash Dominance (BCH.D), an indicator that measures BCH's share of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.
According to data from TradingView, since last September, nearly $2 trillion has exited the crypto market. Despite this movement, BCH.D has gradually risen from 0.25% to 0.48%. This is the highest mark since April 2024.
The rise of BCH.D in a capital withdrawal scenario reveals that many investors remain positioned in BCH. This behavior has favored the maintenance of the price around $560 for several consecutive months.
Layla upgrade boosts optimism
What explains the accumulation and retention posture of investors? Expectations related to the upcoming Layla upgrade may be one of the main factors. The upgrade is scheduled for May 2026.
The Layla upgrade is one of the largest updates ever made to the Bitcoin Cash network since its fork. According to BCH developer Jason Dreyzehner, the upgrade will enhance token usage, increase protection against quantum computing threats, and strengthen privacy features.
The announcement fueled discussions about BCH and attracted more investor attention.
‘… CT begins to highlight BCH. The triggers are simple, but will it perform the same as ZEC, XMR and other privacy-focused coins?’ said investor Hexdrunker in a post on X.
Recent analysis from BeInCrypto suggests that the positive sentiment surrounding the Layla upgrade could drive BCH to $650 in the short term.
