Crypto illiquidity is pressuring DeFi lending companies, but Wall Street 
giants continue to increase their exposure to the world’s largest Ethereum 
treasury company.

Wall Street boosts Bitmine stakes as DeFi lenders buckle on liquidity: Finance Redefined

Bitcoin is struggling to reclaim the $69,000 level as persistent selling 
pressure continues to dominate the short-term market structure. After multiple 
failed attempts to establish acceptance above this key psychological 
threshold, price action reflects a defensive environment marked by reduced 
risk appetite and elevated volatility. Traders remain cautious, with liquidity 
conditions tightening and momentum favoring sellers rather than sustained 
accumulation. Related Reading: Ethereum Breaks the Final Whale Floor In A 
2018-Style Capitulation: What To Expect New on-chain data shared by analyst 
Maartunn adds another layer to the current landscape. According to his 
insights, Bitcoin whales are firmly dominating the market structure at this 
stage of the cycle. Over the past 30 days alone, approximately $8.24 billion 
worth of whale-held BTC has flowed into Binance, marking the highest level of 
large-holder inflows to the exchange in the last 14 months. Such a 
concentration of activity suggests that major participants are actively 
repositioning. The data also underscores Binance’s continued role as the 
primary liquidity venue for large-scale transactions. When whale flows 
accelerate toward exchanges at this magnitude, it often signals heightened 
strategic activity — whether for distribution, hedging, or tactical 
allocation. As Bitcoin consolidates below resistance, the behavior of these 
dominant market participants may play a decisive role in shaping the next 
directional move. Whale Dominance Intensifies As Retail Momentum Cools 
Maartunn further detailed the 30-day flow breakdown, offering a clearer view 
of how market participation is evolving. Over the past month, whale inflows to 
Binance have reached $8.24 billion and continue to trend higher. In 
comparison, retail inflows total approximately $11.91 billion but have begun 
to flatten. As a result, the retail-to-whale ratio currently stands at 1.45 
and is steadily compressing. Although retail participation remains visible, 
its momentum is cooling. The pace of smaller deposits has slowed, suggesting 
declining conviction or reduced speculative activity among short-term traders. 
In contrast, whale deposits have increased consistently over the same period, 
indicating that larger entities are either actively positioning or 
reallocating capital with greater urgency. This dynamic is narrowing the gap 
between large and small participants on the exchange. When whale flows 
accelerate while retail flows plateau, market structure tends to become more 
top-heavy, with price increasingly influenced by institutional-scale actors 
rather than fragmented retail activity. The key takeaway is clear: large 
players are becoming more dominant on Binance, while smaller participants are 
gradually losing relative influence. In the current environment, Bitcoin’s 
next directional move may depend more heavily on whale strategy than retail 
sentiment. Related Reading: The 200 Million XRP Exodus: Investors Swap 
Speculation For Private Custody Bitcoin Tests Critical Support As Downtrend 
Accelerates Bitcoin’s 3-day chart reflects a decisive loss of momentum 
following the rejection near the $120,000 region in late 2025. Since that 
peak, price structure has transitioned into a clear corrective phase 
characterized by lower highs and accelerating downside pressure. The most 
recent leg lower shows a sharp breakdown from the $90,000–$95,000 
consolidation zone, with BTC now hovering around the $68,000 area. 
Technically, Bitcoin is trading below the shorter-term moving average, which 
has rolled over and is sloping downward, reinforcing near-term bearish 
momentum. The intermediate moving average is flattening and beginning to turn 
lower, signaling weakening trend strength. Meanwhile, the long-term average 
remains upward sloping but sits well below current price levels, suggesting 
that while the macro structure has not fully collapsed, the market is in a 
transitional phase. Related Reading: The Altcoin Exodus: Trading Volumes Halve 
As Capital Flees To Bitcoin $65,000 Fortress Volume expanded noticeably during 
the recent selloff, indicating active distribution rather than a passive drift 
lower. However, the latest candles show some stabilization near the 
$65,000–$70,000 support region, an area that previously acted as a breakout 
zone earlier in the cycle. A sustained reclaim of the $75,000–$80,000 range 
would be required to restore bullish structure. Failure to hold current levels 
could expose deeper retracement toward long-term trend support. Featured image 
from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

The Great Bitcoin Handover: $8.2 Billion BTC Swamps Binance As Retail Momentum Fades

On Feb. 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s 
sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs in a landmark 6-3 decision, sparking immediate 
volatility across cryptocurrency and equity markets. Market Reaction and 
Bitcoin’s Recovery Bitcoin rebounded to $67,800 shortly after the U.S. Supreme 
Court struck down President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. The move 
followed a […]

Bitcoin and US Equities Spike After Supreme Court Ruling Voids Trump’s Tariff Regime

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the sweeping tariffs levied by President 
Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) 
were illegal, as the President exceeded the law’s authority. In a dissenting 
opinion, Justice Kavanaugh stated that refunding these tariffs would be “a 
mess.” US Supreme Court Rules Trump Had No Authority To […]

US Supreme Court Strikes Trump’s IEEPA Tariffs Down, Refund Process to Be a ‘Mess’

The failure of the bulls to start a strong recovery in Bitcoin and the major 
altcoins suggests that the bears intend to remain active at higher levels.

Cryptocurrency price in BHD