📈 Crypto Market News – February 20, 2026 / Part 2
- Market Overview: Friday Options Expiry
As the trading week comes to a close, the market is navigating the traditional Friday volatility. The global crypto market cap is holding steady at $3.80 Trillion.
Catalyst: A significant number of Bitcoin and Ethereum options contracts are expiring today across major derivatives exchanges. Market makers are actively hedging their positions, which is causing slight intraday choppiness, but the broader macroeconomic sentiment remains risk-on.
- Bitcoin (BTC) Tests $105k Resistance
Bitcoin is continuing its methodical grind, currently trading near the critical $105,200 level.
Analysis: After establishing $100k as a rock-solid support floor earlier this month, BTC is now probing the next major psychological barrier. Weekend liquidity will dictate whether it breaks through $106,000 or faces a short-term rejection back to the $103,000 consolidation zone.
- American ETF Inflows Finish the Week Strong
Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on the US stock exchange are closing the week with impressive numbers.
Data: Preliminary data indicates another day of net positive inflows from institutional investors. This consistent buying pressure from traditional finance (TradFi) continues to absorb potential sell-offs from early retail investors taking profits.
- Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) Gains Traction
The DePIN sector is one of the standout performers going into the weekend.
Trend: Projects focused on decentralized storage, computing power, and wireless networks are seeing a surge in trading volume. Investors are looking beyond pure finance applications and betting on blockchain utility that integrates with real-world hardware.
- Ethereum (ETH) Network Revenue Surges
Ethereum is currently trading around $4,250, supported by incredibly strong network fundamentals.
On-Chain Metric: Gas fees have moderately increased, resulting in a higher ETH burn rate. Over the last 7 days, the network has generated record revenue, making the asset deeply deflationary during this high-activity period.
