CryptoPotato

Pi Network's PI Takes the Lead in the Altcoin Market, Despite Potential Downturn on the Horizon

Pi Network's PI has outperformed other top 100 cryptocurrencies over the past week, increasing in value by nearly 40% and reaching a market capitalization of $1.7 billion, making it the 47th largest cryptocurrency. However, the upward trend may soon be reversed as the volume of coins held on crypto exchanges has significantly increased, a potential sign of an imminent price correction. An upcoming surge in token unlocks could also signal a downturn. Despite these indications, some community members predict a further short-term increase in PI's value, with speculation that it could reach $1 or $0.50 before Pi Day on March 14, a significant date for the Pi Network.

Is the Withdrawal of 200M XRP from Binance a Positive Indication or Just a Misinterpretation?

Over the past ten days, approximately 200 million XRP tokens have been withdrawn from Binance, despite the Ripple token trading 27% lower than a month ago. This suggests that some investors are using the current prices as an opportunity to accumulate more tokens, rather than exiting the market. The drop in XRP balances on the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange indicates a shift in investor strategy towards longer-term holding. As the tokens moved to private custody are less accessible for quick trades, it reduces immediate selling pressure. The timing of these outflows coincides with a challenging period for XRP holders, with the asset correcting about 40% since the start of the year. Despite the price pressure, XRP continues to draw attention from investors and analysts.

It`s not stupid if it works...

Bitcoin Self-Custody Holders Suffer $27.8B in Unrealized Losses as ETFs Lose $8.5B

Bitcoin holders practicing self-custody are facing an unrealized loss of $27.89 billion, reflecting a similar downturn in the U.S. institutional market where ETF exposure has dropped by two-thirds since late 2024. This is not just a Wall Street occurrence but a systemic event affecting long-term investors using cold storage. Both self-custody holders and institutional giants trading via CME futures and ETFs have experienced significant losses. Despite these losses, whales are accumulating more Bitcoins, anticipating a long-term gain, contrasting with short-term retail demand which has significantly cooled. While support pillars have delayed an immediate collapse, the broader trend remains negative with a 27% drop over 30 days and a 42% drop across six months.

Bitcoin (BTC) Declines to $67K and Ripple (XRP) Suffers 5% Daily Loss: Cryptocurrency Update

Bitcoin's value has been unstable since the start of the week, falling under $66,000 before bouncing back to $67,000. It had a significant drop on February 6th, going to a 15-month low at $60,000 and then jumping to $72,000. However, it has struggled to recover more significantly since then, facing several rejections at the $71,000-$72,000 resistance level. Bitcoin's market capitalization is now below $1.340 trillion, and its dominance over other cryptocurrencies is under 56.5%. Concurrently, most altcoins are also experiencing a decline, including Ethereum, which lost its $2,000 support. Ripple's XRP and SOL are amongst the worst performers, with nearly 5% losses. This has resulted in the total crypto market cap erasing another $50 billion, falling to $2.370 trillion.

Major Shift in Bitcoin Value Expected: Will BTC Fall Under $60K?

Bitcoin's price has been experiencing a slump since late January, falling from $90,000 to a 15-month low of $60,000 within just ten days, and has since been generally stagnant, hovering below $70,000. Michaël van de Poppe, founder and CIO of MN Fund, suggested that a significant price move is imminent due to the low volatility and expressed intentions to buy if the price dips or sell if it hits the $80,000-$85,000 range. Other analysts also highlighted the criticality of the current $67,000 level and speculated a possible drop to $55,000 or even below $50,000. Meanwhile, Doctor Profit predicted 2026 to be a year for precious metals like gold and silver, which have also seen significant volatility this year.

Analysts Predict Bitcoin May Decline to $55,000 Amidst Market Pressure

Bitcoin's price is under pressure, having broken below the "True Market Mean" and is now trending towards the "Realized Price" of around $55,000, according to a report by on-chain analytics provider Glassnode. The company continues to hold a bearish outlook as demand across spot and derivative markets remains weak. Historically, the lower boundary during deeper bear market phases aligns with the Realized Price, which currently stands near $54,900. Glassnode also noted that the market is transitioning from reactive liquidation to controlled consolidation, with sellers in control as demonstrated by the negative Spot Cumulative Volume Delta. For a sustainable recovery, improved liquidity conditions, sustained accumulation, and renewed spot demand will be necessary.

Report Indicates More Cautious Bitcoin Purchasing Trend

Bitcoin's brutal fluctuation from over $126,000 to around $60,000 hasn't deterred buyers anticipating price appreciation. However, data from Alphractal shows a deceleration in the rate of Bitcoin accumulation by short-term holders, indicating weakening short-term demand momentum. This trend has historically preceded periods of market consolidation, increased volatility or larger regime shifts. Despite recent institutional buying, short-term holder demand hasn't strengthened. Conversely, CryptoQuant’s analysis suggests that large Bitcoin holders, or "whales," have increased their holdings by more than 200,000 BTC. Despite recent increases in whale inflows to exchanges, usually linked to short-term selling activity, the overall holdings of these large players continue to grow. They speculate that some whales may be leveraging the current 46% consolidation below Bitcoin's most recent all-time high.

Strategies Focused on Relative Value Outshine Directional Bets Amid Crypto Market Instability

A survey by Presto Research and Otos Data reveals that crypto funds began 2026 with losses and a defensive stance, prompting investors to shift towards relative-value and market-neutral trades due to market uncertainty and price fluctuations. While all liquid crypto hedge funds experienced a 1.49% dip, market-neutral funds gained approximately 1.6%. In a six-month period, these neutral strategies saw nearly a 5% increase, while fundamental funds declined by over 24%. Data suggests that traders adopted a defensive posture without panic, with stress accumulating in pockets rather than triggering widespread liquidation. Given the lack of policy clarity and crypto-specific catalysts, the researchers suggest adaptability will be key for survival in the volatile market. They also highlight that strategies prioritizing relative value are successfully navigating the current market challenges.

Bitwise's Perspective on How Aave Might Contribute to the End of Cryptocurrency Downturn

Despite enduring fragility in Bitcoin's sentiment after a significant dip from its peak price, Matt Hougan, Bitwise's Chief Investment Officer, suggests that decentralized finance (DeFi) could steer the market out of the bear phase. He cites a governance proposal by Aave Labs titled "Aave Will Win" as an example of the new DeFi phase. Aave, along with protocols like Uniswap, operates as serious businesses with substantial revenues. However, DeFi tokens have struggled, largely due to their design as governance tokens without a direct claim on protocol earnings. Hougan notes that Aave's proposal to direct all revenue from its branded products to the DAO treasury may transform the token from a governance-only role to an asset with a direct claim on revenues, potentially leading other assets to follow suit.

Could this be the Finale of the Machi Big Brother's Financial Decline? The Crypto Whale Grasps the Final $1M After Catastrophe

Machi Big Brother, also known as Jeffrey Huang, is noted for his vast, leveraged long positions in numerous tokens on the decentralized exchange, Hyperliquid. However, recent market volatility has dramatically impacted his remaining capital, reducing his Hyperliquid account value to less than $1 million. This massive decline in fortune, from a net worth close to nine figures five months ago, is mainly attributed to his controversial approach to crypto trading. Huang's numerous project launches and aggressive moves into DeFi, including forking Compound to create Cream Finance, have often resulted in heavy losses and failed ventures. His recent activities, such as the launch of the Boba Oppa meme coin on Solana and the sale of over 1,000 NFTs, have further contributed to his financial downfall.

Founder of CryptoQuant Suggests Halting Old Bitcoin Addresses to Block Quantum Threats

CryptoQuant founder, Ki Young Ju, has proposed a preventive measure against potential quantum computer thefts by freezing old Bitcoin (BTC) addresses. He explains that all BTC held in old address types are equally at risk. Assets could either be frozen by design or stolen if quantum machines develop enough to crack BTC’s cryptography. Ju warns that even private keys stored securely may become useless if owners do not adopt protocol upgrades promptly. An estimated 6.89 million BTC are currently exposed to such threats, and about 3.4 million BTC have been dormant for over ten years. Despite the technical feasibility of freezing dormant BTC, reaching a community agreement remains a significant challenge due to the slow pace of social consensus and the potential conflict with the core philosophy of decentralization and user control.

Latest Updates on Pi Network (PI) as of February 18

The Pi Network Core Team previously issued a deadline for nodes to upgrade, with the warning that non-compliance could lead to disconnection. Despite the deadline passing, there has been no information about compliance rates or extensions. The team has faced criticism for a lack of transparency and progress, with some members waiting for over seven years to transfer their Pi coins. In addition, the PI token experienced a severe drop in price to $0.1312, but recovered to over $0.20 shortly afterward. An analyst predicts a 500% surge in the token's value. PiScan data reveals a potential easing of selling pressure with a reduction in the number of coins to be unlocked daily.

Peter Thiel Departs from ETHZilla as Firm Liquidates $74.5M in ETH Amidst Market Volatility

Peter Thiel and Founders Fund have fully divested from ETHZilla Corp, selling their ether (ETH) holdings for $74.5 million, as confirmed by an SEC filing. Originally a biotech firm named 180 Life Sciences Corp., ETHZilla transitioned to cryptocurrency management in August, a move that coincided with a significant market downturn. The company, which once held over 100,000 ETH, has been liquidating its assets due to this downturn, selling ETH in October and December to cover debts, repurchase shares, and repay senior secured convertible notes. ETHZilla has also launched a subsidiary, ETHZilla Aerospace, indicating a shift towards real-world, asset-backed offerings. Despite no public comment on Thiel's departure or the ETH sales, the moves highlight the financial struggles of crypto-focused public companies and the need for careful financial management amidst market volatility.

Signs...

Analyst Forecasts Second Phase of Bitcoin Bear Market

Seasoned on-chain analyst Willy Woo has cautioned that the Bitcoin market is progressing into the second phase of a bear trend. Woo suggests the first phase began in Q3 2025, marked by liquidity breakdown and subsequent price drops. He cites rising volatility metrics as a key sign of the trend, and predicts phase two will start when global equities start to weaken. Despite some analysts' differing interpretations of the data, Woo remains bearish, warning of possible further price capitulation around peak outflows. He does, however, see a potential turnaround in liquidity, marking the end of the bear market.

Market Overview: Pi Network (PI) Experiences a 40% Weekly Rise, while Bitcoin (BTC) Struggles at $68K

Bitcoin has been experiencing fluctuating prices around $68,000, even slipping below this mark on several occasions in the past day. The first week of trading in the current month saw a significant drop for Bitcoin to $60,000, a first since October 2024, representing a $30,000 decline in just over a week. Despite a brief recovery, it faced selling pressure at $72,000, and has been trading between this and the $68,000 mark since. Meanwhile, Pi Network's PI token has seen impressive growth, rising over 40% in the past week, from an all-time low of $0.1312 to around $0.19. The total crypto market cap has added over $25 billion in a day, now standing at $2.430 trillion.

Unknown Trader Gains $7M from Shorting, Outperforming High-Profile Losses

An anonymous trader, dubbed as 0x58bro, has garnered $7M in unrealized profits by shorting Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies, as revealed by Arkham's on-chain intelligence data. This success comes while many high-profile crypto traders are recording significant losses. 0x58bro, who holds a portfolio of nearly $13M, has made substantial gains from shorting ETH and ENA, despite the market volatility. The trader also holds over $7.5M in Aave’s interest-bearing ETH token and $5M in Aave’s USDC deposit token, indicating a strategic approach. Meanwhile, other traders such as Machi Big Brother and institutions like Trend Research have incurred losses to the tune of $28M and $869M respectively. Whether 0x58bro will maintain his short positions or join the accumulating addresses betting on a rebound remains to be seen.

For the First Time, Over Half of Ethereum's Supply is Held in Staking Address: Santiment Report

According to Santiment, Ethereum's proof-of-stake contract address now contains over half of the Ether supply, a first in the coin's eleven-year history. This figure can be misleading as it represents around 30% of the total supply, with approximately 37 million ETH currently staked out of 121.4 million tokens. The proof-of-stake address operates as a one-way vault, temporarily locking staked ETH from normal circulation. When validators withdraw, the Ether is released as newly issued coins on Ethereum’s main network, making the contract's share of the supply appear larger. Demand for staking has soared, with a record percentage of ETH supply staked and around 3.9 million ETH awaiting staking. In contrast, Ether prices have decreased to bear market lows below $2,000 due to panic selling by retail traders.

Grayscale Notes XRP as the Most Frequently Discussed Asset, Following Bitcoin

Grayscale, the asset management giant, has recognized XRP as the second-most discussed asset in their platform's community, following bitcoin. Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, Grayscale’s Head of Product and Research, highlighted the active and passionate community behind the XRP, with the asset being a popular topic among their clients. The interest in XRP stems from its potential to capture market share and the demand for products tied to the asset. Despite previous challenges and lagging product-market fit, the positive sentiment from the XRP community is expected to shift its narrative. This is supported by the recent $33.4 million inflow into XRP-related investment products, contrasting the outflows from Bitcoin and Ethereum. With XRP recently rallying by 16%, experts predict a positive price trajectory for the asset.