ethusd

After days of panic selling and extreme fear, the crypto market has suddenly flipped green. Bitcoin price has reclaimed the $65,000 zone, Ethereum is pushing back toward $2,000, and XRP is stabilizing near $1.36. More than $323 million in leveraged positions were liquidated in just 24 hours, triggering a powerful short squeeze across major cryptocurrencies. 
At the same time, strong Bitcoin ETF inflows and easing institutional concerns have helped stabilize sentiment. If you’re wondering why is the crypto market up today, the answer lies in a combination of forced liquidations, institutional ETF buying, macro shifts, and whale positioning beneath the surface.
Let’s break it down clearly.
Key Triggers Behind Today’s Crypto Rally
$323M in Liquidations Spark a Short Squeeze
The most immediate driver of today’s rally is forced liquidations. More than $323 million in leveraged positions were wiped out in the past 24 hours. Bitcoin alone saw roughly $140 million in liquidations, while Ethereum recorded over $100 million. The majority, estimated above 70%, were short positions. This matters because traders were heavily positioned for further downside as the Fear & Greed Index collapsed to 11 (Extreme Fear). 

When prices began rising unexpectedly, short sellers were forced to close their trades. Once the cascade begins, prices can rise sharply in a short period. That squeeze effect forms the first backbone of why the crypto market is up today.
ETF Inflows Reinforce the Move
While liquidations explain the momentum of the rally, ETF inflows explain its strength. U.S. Bitcoin Spot ETFs recorded $257.7 million in daily net inflows, pushing cumulative inflows to approximately $54.07 billion. That represents real spot buying, not leveraged trading. Ethereum ETFs added about $9.23 million, and XRP-linked products recorded roughly $3.04 million in inflows.
ETF flows are important because they reflect institutional positioning. When institutional capital enters during extreme fear conditions, it provides structural demand beneath the market. Liquidations create momentum. ETF inflows create stability. Together, they form the backbone of today’s crypto market rebound.
Jane Street Lawsuit Narrative Eases Selling Pressure
Recent volatility surrounding Jane Street-related legal developments had weighed on sentiment. Concerns over potential institutional fallout increased risk-off behavior earlier in the week. Today’s stabilization suggests that systemic fears may have been overestimated. Markets often react strongly to uncertainty, and once clarity begins to emerge, prices reprice quickly. The easing of this narrative removed a layer of pressure from the market, allowing buyers to step back in.
Broader Crypto Market Outlook: BTC, ETH, XRP Key Levels To Watch
The total crypto market cap has rebounded toward $2.26 trillion, reflecting broad participation rather than isolated strength.
Here’s how the majors are positioned today:
Bitcoin 

 Price Today
Trading near $65,000–$66,000Up roughly 3–5% todayImmediate resistance: $66,500–$67,000Key support: $64,500-$63,800
Bitcoin broke out of a short-term falling channel on lower timeframes, signaling a pause in downside momentum. Holding above $64,500 keeps the recovery structure intact.
Ethereum 

 Price Today
Trading around $1,930Up roughly 5% todayResistance Zone: $2,000–$2,250Support Zone: $1,700-$1800
ETH has shifted from aggressive selling to consolidation after leverage reset. A push above $2,250 would strengthen short-term bullish structure.
#XRP
Price Today

Trading near $1.36Up approximately 2.5–4%Resistance Zone: $1.40-$1.50Support Zone: $1.20-$1.25
XRP price is stabilizing after recent volatility. Holding above $1.30 maintains structure, while a break above $1.40 could invite renewed momentum.
Altcoins beyond the majors are also seeing relief bounces, indicating broader market participation rather than isolated Bitcoin strength.
Conclusion: Why Is the Crypto Market Up Today?
The answer is layered but clear:
$323M in liquidations squeezed short sellers.Strong Bitcoin ETF inflows signaled institutional buyingExtreme fear conditions created oversold setupsJane Street fears eased
Bitcoin ignited the move, Ethereum confirmed it and XRP followed. The market shifted from panic to positioning, and that shift is driving today’s crypto market rally.
However, for sustained upside, Bitcoin must hold above the key resistance zone of $66k, ETF inflows need to remain consistent, liquidation pressure must continue favoring short positions and macro conditions must stay supportive. If these conditions align, this rebound could extend further.

Following our Fibonacci comparative analysis of Ethereum (ETHUSD) between its 2022 and 2026 Bear Cycles almost 3 months ago (December 01 2025, see chart below) where we predicted the consolidation and January's - February's crash, we decided to take this a step further and add the 2018 Bear Cycle in the mix too:

The results are even more mind-blowing and help put the rest of the 2026 Bear Cycle into greater context.
With the 1W CCI sequences identical among the three Cycle fractals, we are now at a point where Stage 2 of the Cycle has already started. The question is of course how low can it go?
A relatively fair approach would be expecting it to drop and bottom somewhere within a potential -82% decline (as was the 2022 Bear Cycle) and the 1.5 Fibonacci extension from the Bull Cycle's last pull-back. As you can see this has been consistent on the 2018 Cycle too.
A triple bottom below the CCI's -100.00 (oversold) level would also be a fair estimate (again was an optimal long-term buy entry in 2018 and 2022). A break and 1W closing above its 1D MA200 (red trend-line) has also confirmed the start of the new Bull Cycle in both 2019 and 2023.
As a result, we have a cyclical Buy Zone within the $900.00 - $750.00 range.
Please LIKE 👍, FOLLOW ✅, SHARE 🙌 and COMMENT ✍ if you enjoy this idea!
$ETH #ETH #Ethereum #ETHUSD #ETHUSDT #signals

Ethereum is currently navigating a precarious technical landscape as it teeters on the edge of the psychological $2,000 barrier.
​February 17, 2026 — Ethereum (ETH) is entering a high-stakes period of price discovery as it battles persistent bearish momentum. After failing to sustain a move above the $2,000 mark earlier this week, the second-largest cryptocurrency is now eyeing critical support levels that could determine its trajectory for the remainder of Q1.
​The Technical Outlook: Bearish Dominance
​The daily chart for ETH/USD currently paints a cautious picture for investors. The price action is characterized by diverging bearish Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), a classic signal that the downtrend is gaining strength rather than exhausting itself.
​While ETH saw a modest rebound after testing the $1,740 support zone, the "relief rally" lacks the volume typically associated with a definitive bottom. As long as the price remains suppressed under these EMAs, the market bias remains firmly to the downside.
​The Bear Case: A Drop to $1,500
​The $1,740 level is now the line in the sand for bulls. Technical analysts suggest that a clean break and a daily close below this support could trigger a "liquidation cascade," as stop-loss orders for long positions are likely clustered just beneath it.
​Target: If $1,740 fails, the next major historical support sits at $1,500.​Sentiment: Current derivatives data shows a slight increase in short positioning, suggesting that traders are bracing for a potential breakdown.
​The Bull Case: The Path to $2,630
​Despite the bearish pressure, a reversal is not off the table. For a bullish trend reversal to be confirmed, Ethereum must achieve a decisive breach of the $2,125 resistance.
​The Catalyst: Reclaiming $2,125 would flip the script, potentially turning previous resistance into a new floor.​The Target: Once cleared, the path opens toward the $2,630 resistance zone, which served as a significant distribution point in early January.
​As of today, ETH is trading in a tight range between $1,937 and $1,980. The market's indecision is reflected in the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is currently hovering in neutral-to-bearish territory. Investors are advised to watch the $1,740 level closely; the reaction there over the next 48 hours will likely set the tone for the coming weeks.
#ETHUSD
$ETH