The Aptos Foundation has proposed an overhaul of its tokenmomic and governance 
structure, which it says will replace the “bootstrap-era subsidy model” with a 
more sustainable and usage-driven economic model. “Aptos Foundation is 
proposing structural reforms that replace subsidy-based emissions…

Aptos Foundation proposes supply cap and reduced staking rewards in deflation push

The crypto market remained in a downtrend on Thursday, dropping nearly 3% to 
$2.35 trillion due to a confluence of macroeconomic uncertainty and 
geopolitical tensions that spooked investors. Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s 
largest crypto asset, fell 3.5% to around $65,900…

Why is the crypto market down today? (Feb. 19)

Decentralized perpetual futures exchange Hyperliquid has launched a new 
advocacy group in Washington to push for clearer rules around decentralized 
finance in Congress. The Hyperliquid Policy Center will be “dedicated to 
advancing a clear, regulated path for decentralized finance to…

Hyperliquid launches Washington policy center to press for regulatory clarity

The Ethereum Foundation has laid out its Protocol Priorities for 2026, 
focusing on core upgrades that could reshape the network’s technical direction 
this year. The update outlines progress from 2025 and sets strategic goals for 
scaling, user experience, and core…

Ethereum plots major 2026 upgrades as price risks fresh slide

The altcoin market has faced persistent difficulties since 2024, with many 
assets still struggling to recover from the euphoric highs reached during the 
2021 bull cycle. Despite intermittent rallies, broader momentum has remained 
weak, reflecting reduced speculative appetite, tighter liquidity conditions, 
and a gradual shift in investor preference toward more established crypto 
assets. This prolonged underperformance has left a large portion of the 
altcoin sector trading well below historical peaks, reinforcing cautious 
sentiment across the market. Related Reading: Is Bitcoin Supply Moving To 
Strong Hands? Whale Data Suggest Structural Shift A recent CryptoQuant 
analysis provides additional context by examining capital rotation patterns 
during Bitcoin’s latest corrective phase. After a sharp pullback, Bitcoin has 
entered a consolidation range roughly between $65,000 and $72,000, an area 
where significant activity from whales, long-term holders, and institutional 
participants appears to be concentrated. Such consolidation zones often 
attract strategic accumulation rather than speculative altcoin exposure. 
Historically, deep corrections or late-stage bear phases tend to trigger 
capital migration toward Bitcoin, while altcoins experience reduced inflows. 
Binance trading volume data — segmented into BTC, ETH, and other altcoins — 
highlights this dynamic clearly. As Bitcoin reclaimed levels above $60,000, a 
noticeable shift in volume distribution emerged, suggesting investors 
increasingly prioritized Bitcoin over higher-risk altcoin exposure. Bitcoin 
Dominance Rises As Altcoin Trading Activity Weakens Altcoin trading activity 
has weakened noticeably during the current corrective phase, reinforcing the 
broader shift toward defensive positioning within the crypto market. According 
to a recent analyst assessment, Bitcoin trading volumes on Binance regained 
dominance on February 7, accounting for roughly 36.8% of total exchange 
activity. This leadership has persisted since then, suggesting sustained 
investor preference for the relative stability and liquidity associated with 
Bitcoin during uncertain conditions. In comparison, altcoins represented about 
35.3% of total trading volume, while Ethereum accounted for approximately 
27.8%. Although these figures still reflect meaningful participation, altcoins 
have experienced the sharpest contraction in activity. Back in November, 
altcoins represented around 59.2% of Binance trading volumes, but by February 
13 their share had dropped to roughly 33.6%, marking close to a 50% decline in 
market participation. Similar patterns have appeared during prior corrective 
phases, including April 2025, August 2024, and late 2022 near the end of the 
previous bear cycle. Periods of heightened uncertainty typically drive capital 
toward Bitcoin, which continues to function as the sector’s primary liquidity 
anchor. This recurring rotation highlights Bitcoin’s role as a perceived safer 
crypto asset when volatility rises and speculative appetite diminishes. 
Related Reading: Bitcoin Miners Pull 36K BTC From Exchanges In Weeks: What 
Comes Next? Altcoin Market Cap Weakens As Risk Appetite Remains Limited The 
total crypto market capitalization excluding the top 10 assets continues to 
reflect persistent weakness, highlighting the fragile state of the broader 
altcoin segment. After peaking near the 2025 highs, this metric entered a 
sustained corrective phase, with recent price action hovering around the 
$170–180 billion range. This zone has acted as a tentative support area, but 
the lack of a strong rebound suggests that risk appetite remains subdued 
across smaller-cap assets. Technically, the structure shows the altcoin market 
trading below key moving averages, indicating that momentum still favors 
sellers. Previous recovery attempts have repeatedly stalled near dynamic 
resistance, reinforcing the idea that capital rotation toward major assets — 
particularly Bitcoin — continues to dominate market behavior. Elevated 
volatility during the most recent declines also points to fragile liquidity 
conditions. Related Reading: Ethereum Whale Losses Mirror Past Bottoms: 
Accumulation Continues Despite Pressure Volume dynamics further support this 
cautious interpretation. Spikes in selling activity accompanied the latest 
pullback, suggesting distribution rather than accumulation. While 
stabilization appears to be developing in the short term, there is limited 
evidence of sustained inflows returning to altcoins. Historically, similar 
configurations have often preceded prolonged consolidation phases rather than 
immediate recoveries. Unless broader market liquidity improves or Bitcoin 
dominance weakens, the altcoin market may remain structurally constrained 
despite occasional short-term rebounds. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart 
from TradingView.com

Cryptocurrency price in VEF