Demand from Bitcoin accumulation addresses reached a new high, with analysts 
citing a futures market CME gap as a prediction point for their higher short- 
term price targets.

Bitcoin accumulation wave puts $80K back in play: Analyst

The British financial giant Standard Chartered sharply reduced its price 
outlook for XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency. The company trimmed its 
end-of-2026 target by 65% following the severe downturn in the broader crypto 
market in the past month. The revision comes even as the altcoin posted a 
modest 2% rebound over the past week, trading around $1.47 per token at the 
time of writing. Despite that short-term recovery, the bank’s digital assets 
team now believes the token is unlikely to reach a new all-time high this 
year. New XRP Price Prediction The updated forecast was first reported on 
Monday by DL News, with Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of 
digital assets research, outlining the changes in a note to investors. Related 
Reading: Can XRP Hold Above $1? Token Tumbles 11% as Breakdown Fuels Crash 
Concerns Kendrick, who leads the bank’s crypto research efforts, acknowledged 
that recent market conditions have forced a broad reassessment of price 
expectations across the sector. “Recent price action for digital assets has 
been challenging, to say the least,” Kendrick wrote. “We expect further 
declines near-term, and we lower our forecasts across the asset class.” Under 
the revised outlook, Standard Chartered now expects XRP to reach $2.80 by the 
end of 2026, a substantial cut from its previous $8 projection. The earlier 
target had been issued in December, when the bank took a far more optimistic 
stance. At that time, Kendrick pointed to increasing regulatory clarity 
surrounding XRP’s status as a financial asset, along with progress toward 
exchange-traded fund (ETF) products, as key catalysts that could drive 
significant price appreciation. Broad Forecast Cuts Across Major Tokens The $8 
forecast was made roughly two and a half months after the sharp market crash 
on October 10, when sentiment had begun to stabilize. However, as February 
draws to a close, the broader crypto market has yet to mount a sustained 
recovery. That prolonged weakness has prompted Standard Chartered to reassess 
not only XRP but the wider digital asset landscape. Related Reading: Bitcoin 
Should Be Flying—Instead, Quantum Risk Keeps It Grounded: Analyst Bitcoin’s 
(BTC) expected price has been reduced from $150,000 to $100,000. Ethereum’s 
(ETH) forecast has been revised down from $7,000 to $4,000, while Solana’s 
(SOL) target has been cut from $250 to $135. Featured image from OpenArt, 
chart from TradingView.com

XRP Outlook Slashed: Standard Chartered Lowers Forecast From $8 To $2

The current global economy is heavily influenced by wartime conditions, 
impacting economic, military, and strategic asset dynamics. Global conflicts 
are expected to intensify, suggesting increased volatility in markets. 
Deglobalization and geopolitical tensions are reshaping market behaviors and 
&#8230;
The post Cem Karsan: Wartime economy reshapes global markets, political populism drives inflation trends, and authoritarianism threatens economic stability | Forward Guidance appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Cem Karsan: Wartime economy reshapes global markets, political populism drives inflation trends, and authoritarianism threatens economic stability | Forward Guidance

Bitcoin fell sharply on Feb. 16, dropping below $68,000 after briefly testing 
$70,000 and remains stuck in a consolidation range between $65,000 and 
$72,000. Market sentiment is deeply bearish, with the Crypto Fear and Greed 
Index in extreme fear. Bitcoin Reverses Weekend Gains Bitcoin retreated from 
its weekend highs during a volatile session on Monday, […]

Bitcoin Retreats Below $68,000 Amid ‘Extreme Fear’ and Analyst Downgrades

Ethereum continues to struggle under persistent selling pressure, with price 
action reflecting a fragile market environment and cautious investor 
sentiment. Since peaking in October, Ethereum has lost more than 60% of its 
value, marking one of the sharpest corrective phases of the current cycle. 
Analysts increasingly warn that downside risks remain elevated, particularly 
if broader crypto liquidity conditions fail to stabilize in the near term. 
Related Reading: Liquidity Or Liability? History’s Hard Lessons For The XRP 
Momentum Play Despite the negative price performance, on-chain data suggests a 
more nuanced underlying dynamic. A recent CryptoQuant report indicates that 
Ethereum whales are currently holding positions at a loss, with the magnitude 
of those unrealized losses comparable to levels historically seen near 
previous market bottoms. This pattern often emerges late in corrective cycles, 
when large holders continue accumulating rather than distributing. Notably, 
the report highlights that many of these large investors have not had 
meaningful opportunities to realize profits during this cycle, as they 
maintained accumulation strategies even through volatility. Such behavior can 
signal long-term conviction, although it does not guarantee an imminent 
reversal. Whale Positioning Signals Potential Bottom Formation The report 
argues that current on-chain positioning among large Ethereum holders may 
indicate that the market is approaching a cyclical bottom. According to the 
analysis, whales are currently sitting on losses comparable to those observed 
near previous market lows, a condition that historically coincided with late- 
stage corrective phases rather than early declines. This positioning suggests 
that the present price range could represent a structural floor, although 
confirmation typically requires stabilization in both price and liquidity 
conditions. One notable aspect is that these large holders now control some of 
the largest aggregate ETH balances on record. Despite this accumulation, they 
have not had significant opportunities to realize profits during the current 
cycle, largely because prices reversed before extended distribution phases 
could occur. This absence of profit-taking contrasts with prior bull cycles, 
where whales gradually reduced exposure near peaks. The report interprets 
continued accumulation under these conditions as preparation for a potential 
future rally rather than defensive repositioning. Large holders appear to be 
building exposure with a longer investment horizon, anticipating improved 
macro liquidity and renewed market momentum. However, while such behavior can 
precede recoveries, it does not eliminate downside risk. Confirmation 
typically requires stronger demand, improved sentiment, and sustained price 
stability. Related Reading: Ethereum Derivatives Reset Raises Questions About 
Next Price Move: What Happens Next? Ethereum Tests Critical Long-Term Support 
Zone Ethereum’s weekly chart shows sustained downside pressure following the 
sharp rejection from the late-2025 highs near the $4,800 region. Price has now 
retraced toward the $2,000 psychological level, an area that historically 
acted as both resistance and support across multiple cycles. The recent 
breakdown below shorter-term moving averages confirms a loss of bullish 
momentum and suggests that sellers remain in control in the medium term. The 
clustering of major moving averages above the current price reinforces this 
bearish structure. The faster trend averages have rolled over decisively, 
while the longer-term baseline continues to flatten, indicating weakening 
trend strength rather than outright capitulation. This configuration typically 
reflects late corrective phases, where volatility rises but directional 
conviction remains fragile. Related Reading: Bitcoin BCMI Drops Toward Bear 
Market Territory: How Close Is BTC To A Real Buy Zone? Volume dynamics add 
nuance. Elevated selling volume during the latest decline signals active 
distribution rather than passive drift. However, the absence of extreme 
capitulation spikes suggests that a full market flush may not yet have 
occurred. From a structural perspective, holding above the $1,800–$2,000 
corridor would help stabilize sentiment and potentially form a consolidation 
base. A sustained breakdown below this region could expose deeper historical 
support zones closer to prior cycle accumulation ranges. Conversely, 
reclaiming the key moving averages would be required before any credible trend 
reversal narrative emerges. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from 
TradingView.com

Cryptocurrency price in CNY