Michael Saylor keeps things upbeat. He told a TV interviewer that the current 
Bitcoin dip feels milder than past crashes and that a quicker rebound is 
likely. He even said, “Spring is coming, and Bitcoin is winning.” Related 
Reading: Ethereum Staking Reaches Historic Levels, Price Hovers Near $2K 
Bitcoin Institutional Support Strengthens Outlook According to Saylor, a big 
reason for his confidence is that banks and big firms are far more involved 
than they were a few years ago. Reports note fresh banking tools and credit 
networks aimed at crypto are drawing new capital in. US President Donald Trump 
was mentioned by the Strategy big boss as a political force friendly to 
Bitcoin — a line that will be picked over by both supporters and critics. We 
may be in the middle of a crypto winter, but spring is coming — and Bitcoin is 
winning. pic.twitter.com/jxvzK3XwSN — Michael Saylor (@saylor) February 17, 
2026 Strategy’s Holdings And Price Math Strategy holds 714,644 BTC on its 
books, bought at an average near $76,056 each. At the moment, Bitcoin trades 
around $67,900. That gap matters. The roughly $49 billion value sitting in the 
vault is compared to a company market value that trades around $42.80 billion. 
Those raw numbers give weight to Saylor’s claim that the company can handle 
big swings. He went further, saying that even a fall to $8,000 would leave the 
holdings enough to cover outstanding debt. That is a strong statement. It was 
presented as reassurance to investors. Strategy’s Position And Risk 
Calculations Reports say Strategy plans to swap its convertible debt into 
stock within three to six years. The firm has also signaled it will buy more 
Bitcoin each quarter. How these moves play out depends on markets, financing 
terms, and timing. Some analysts think the company’s approach lowers short- 
term pressure on the share price. Others point out that keeping such a large 
crypto stash concentrates risk in volatile markets. Past Cycles Saylor 
compared the current episode to deeper downturns that came before. That 
comparison is useful but needs numbers to be fully judged. Historical drops in 
crypto have been steep at times, which is why claims of a milder slump invite 
scrutiny. Other investors look at on-chain flows, macro cash conditions, and 
bank behavior to decide whether this time is different. Right now, evidence of 
a fast, broad institutional inflow is mixed. Related Reading: Urgent Crypto 
Reform: Treasury Secretary Says The Clock Is Ticking Outlook And What Could 
Shift The Story Markets could swing on a few catalysts: changes in lending 
policy, moves by large funds, or fresh regulatory signals from US authorities. 
News or shocks could tilt sentiment quickly. Some market watchers look at 
10-year trendlines for context, while others focus on shorter trading 
indicators. Either way, Saylor’s optimism is clearly tied to a long view and a 
confident read of current market structure. Featured image from Long Island 
Weight Loss Institute, chart from TradingView

Winter Won’t Last — Bitcoin’s Next Season Is Near, Michael Saylor Says

Bitcoin developer Matt Carallo says Bitcoiners are looking to “blame 
something” for the asset’s sluggish price, dismissing quantum fears as the 
culprit.

Bitcoin selloff due to quantum fears doesn’t add up with Ether flat, says dev

Bitcoin price corrected gains and tested the $65,650 zone. BTC is now 
consolidating losses and might start a decent increase if it settles above 
$68,000. Bitcoin is struggling to recover losses and moving lower below 
$67,500. The price is trading below $67,500 and the 100 hourly simple moving 
average. There is a declining channel forming with resistance at $67,400 on 
the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might 
dip again if it trades below the $66,500 and $66,000 levels. Bitcoin Price 
Faces Tough Challenge Bitcoin price failed to remain stable above the $67,500 
zone. BTC started a fresh decline and traded below the $67,200 support zone. 
There was a push below $67,000. The price even spiked below $66,800. A low was 
formed at $65,650, and the price is now correcting some losses. There was a 
move above the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the 
$68,418 swing high to the $65,650 low. Bitcoin is now trading below $67,500 
and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above 
$66,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the 
$67,400 level. There is also a declining channel forming with resistance at 
$67,400 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. It is close to the 61.8% Fib 
retracement level of the recent decline from the $68,418 swing high to the 
$65,650 low. The first key resistance is near the $68,000 level. A close above 
the $68,000 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated 
case, the price could rise and test the $68,800 resistance. Any more gains 
might send the price toward the $69,500 level. The next barrier for the bulls 
could be $70,000 and $70,500. Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise 
above the $68,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate 
support is near the $66,000 level. The first major support is near the $65,650 
level. The next support is now near the $65,050 zone. Any more losses might 
send the price toward the $64,500 support in the near term. The main support 
now sits at $63,800, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near 
term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the 
bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is 
now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $66,000, followed by $65,650. 
Major Resistance Levels – $67,400 and $68,000.

Bitcoin Price Tightens Range Near Highs Ahead Of Potential Surge

Stablecoins are rapidly emerging as the default payment layer for AI agents, 
with Coinbase and top crypto leaders positioning them as the backbone of 
autonomous, machine-driven commerce and the next evolution of global digital 
finance. Crypto Leaders Bet on Stablecoins as AI Agents Move Onchain The 
convergence of artificial intelligence and digital payments is accelerating 
[…]

Coinbase CEO ‘Extremely Bullish’ on Stablecoins as Default Payment for Billions of AI Agents

Ethereum’s technical structure has weakened further after slipping decisively 
below the $2,100 level, reinforcing short-term bearish pressure. However, 
while the breakdown raises the risk of a deeper downside, a repeating fractal 
pattern on the higher timeframe offers a potential glimmer of hope, suggesting 
that a larger breakout could still emerge if history rhymes. Key $2.3K–$2.1K 
Support Zone Lost According to Crypto Candy, Ethereum has decisively lost its 
key daily support zone between $2,300 and $2,100, closing firmly below it and 
confirming a structural breakdown. This area had previously acted as a strong 
demand region, repeatedly absorbing selling pressure. Its failure marks an 
important technical shift, suggesting that the broader market structure has 
weakened. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Stalls Under Resistance With 
Breakout Hopes Delayed With the breakdown confirmed, the former support zone 
has now flipped into a significant resistance area. ETH has already attempted 
to reclaim the $2,100–$2,300 range but has failed to regain acceptance above 
it. This rejection reinforces the idea that sellers are defending the level 
aggressively, keeping short-term momentum tilted to the downside. If bearish 
momentum continues to build, the next major support region to watch sits 
between $1,700 and $1,500. A move into this range would align with typical 
continuation behavior following a failed reclaim of broken support. For now, 
the bias remains bearish as long as Ethereum trades below the $2,300–$2,100 
zone. Only a strong reclaim followed by sustained consolidation above that 
range would invalidate the downside scenario. Ethereum Fractal Structure 
Mirrors Pre-Rally Setup Providing a weekly Ethereum update, Trader Tardigrade 
pointed to a compelling fractal comparison that suggests a familiar structure 
may be unfolding. The expert’s analysis highlights the formation of a 
rectangular consolidation box, a setup that closely resembles the price 
behavior seen before Ethereum’s explosive rally in late 2025. Related Reading: 
Ethereum’s Leverage Reset Clears The Path For A Healthy Rebound – Analyst 
During that previous cycle, ETH spent weeks compressing within a clearly 
defined horizontal range, building energy before eventually breaking out with 
strong momentum. The current chart shows a nearly identical box pattern 
forming, positioned similarly within the broader ascending channel. The 
symmetry between the two structures strengthens the case that this may not be 
random consolidation, but rather a repeat of a larger cyclical pattern. If the 
fractal continues to play out as it did before, a decisive breakout above the 
current range could trigger a powerful upside expansion. Just as in 2025, the 
longer the price compresses within the box, the more aggressive the eventual 
move could become. A confirmed break and sustained acceptance above the range 
would be the key signal that Ethereum is transitioning from accumulation to 
markup once again. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

Cryptocurrency price in NZD