On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, bitcoin remained locked in a narrow, uneasy trading range between $67,000 and $69,000 as the broader cryptocurrency market grappled with “extreme fear” for the sixth consecutive day. While the early session showed a flicker of promise with bitcoin briefly reclaiming the $69,000 level, the rally was short-lived. Intense selling pressure quickly forced a descent to a session low of $66,557 before a fragile recovery took hold.

In what has become a recurring theme, the latest massive purchase by Strategy failed to provide any meaningful bullish momentum. According to Bitcoin.com News, the firm acquired an additional 2,486 bitcoins for approximately $168.4 million at an average price of $67,710.

This brings the company’s total holdings to a staggering 717,131 bitcoins. However, the optics of the trade remain challenging; with an average cost basis sitting roughly $10,000 above current market prices, the firm is weathering an unrealized loss of just over $7 billion.

This sluggish price action was further validated by a new Coinshares report revealing that digital asset investment products are enduring their longest “red” streak in nearly a year. Global exchange-traded products (ETPs) saw a fourth consecutive week of net outflows totaling $173 million, pushing the cumulative four-week exodus to $3.74 billion. The report specifically highlighted a sharp decline in appetite among U.S.-based institutional investors, who appear to be leading a retreat into traditional risk-off assets.

Near 3 p.m. EST, bitcoin had managed to settle just above $67,800, yet it remained 0.5% lower than its daily opening price. This stagnation stood in sharp contrast to traditional U.S. markets, which found their footing after a shaky morning. The Nasdaq Composite—a frequent bellwether for crypto direction—rose by more than 70 points, or 0.35%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average also trended higher. This decoupling suggests that while equity traders are finding reasons for optimism, Bitcoin remains weighed down by internal liquidity drains and persistent institutional skepticism.

Technically, bitcoin’s daily relative strength index ( RSI) is hovering between 31 and 34. While this deep oversold positioning indicates selling exhaustion, it also confirms strong bearish momentum; a drop below 30 would signal a full capitulation phase. Conversely, the moving average convergence divergence ( MACD) histogram shows signs of indecision. Although the signal line remains negative, it is beginning to flatten, suggesting the aggressive selling pressure seen in early February may be losing steam.

At the time of writing, bitcoin navigated a high-stakes landscape, pinned between a critical consolidation floor of $65,700–$66,400 and immediate psychological resistance at $70,000–$72,000. While a break below support could trigger a significant flush toward the $58,800–$60,000 zone—a key Fibonacci retracement level—analysts insist that bulls must secure a decisive close above $75,000 to invalidate the current bearish channel and reclaim market momentum.

• Why is Bitcoin stuck between $67K–$69K? Global traders remain in “extreme fear,” keeping prices locked in a tight range.
• How does Strategy’s $168M buy affect the market?
  Despite adding 2,486 BTC, the firm’s $7B unrealized loss limits bullish momentum.
• What do institutional flows show in the U.S.?
  Coinshares reports $173M in weekly outflows, led by U.S. investors retreating to safer assets.
• What price levels matter for traders now?
  Support sits at $65.7K–$66.4K, while bulls must clear $75K to break the bearish channel.

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