Crypto World

Bearish pennant signals trend continuation

Published

3 hours ago

18 February 2026

BNB price eyes $537, bearish pennant signals trend continuation - 1

BNB price action is compressing inside a bearish pennant, suggesting consolidation before a potential continuation lower toward high-timeframe support as downside momentum remains intact.

Summary

Bearish pennant confirms continuation risk, following the prior downtrend
$659 resistance caps upside, increasing false-rally risk
$532–$537 support is the key downside target, if the pattern breaks lower

Binance (BNB) price is approaching a critical technical juncture as price action continues to compress within a well-defined pennant structure. After an impulsive move lower, BNB has entered a period of consolidation, a pattern that often precedes continuation rather than reversal. From a structural standpoint, the direction of the prior trend is key, and in BNB’s case, that trend has clearly been bearish.

Pennant formations act as pause points in trending markets, allowing prices to rebalance before resuming their trend. As BNB trades closer to the apex of this pattern, the probability of a decisive breakout increases. The question now is not whether volatility will return, but in which direction the next expansion will occur.

BNB price key technical points

Bearish pennant structure confirmed, following a strong downside impulse
$659 resistance caps upside, aligning with the top of the current range
High-timeframe support near $532–$537, is the primary downside target

BNB’s current consolidation fits the classic profile of a bearish pennant. This pattern typically forms after a sharp decline, followed by narrowing price action marked by lower highs and higher lows. Rather than signaling recovery, this structure often reflects a temporary balance before sellers resume control.

The key technical characteristic reinforcing the bearish bias is that the pennant has formed after a downside expansion, not during a broader uptrend. This context matters, as continuation patterns generally resolve in the direction of the prevailing trend.

As price moves closer to the pennant apex, compression increases and volatility declines, a common precursor to a sharp directional move.

Resistance at $659 remains a key supply zone

While the broader structure favors downside continuation, it is important to acknowledge the potential for a false rally before any larger breakdown occurs. The $659 level stands out as a key resistance, representing the upper boundary of the current trading range and a zone of prior rejection.

Markets frequently test resistance levels during consolidation phases to clear liquidity and trap late buyers before reversing lower. If BNB experiences a short-term breakout to $659 without strong volume and acceptance, the move would likely be corrective rather than trend-changing.

Failure to reclaim and hold above $659 on a closing basis would further validate the bearish pennant and increase the probability of downside continuation.

Downside target at $532 comes into focus

If the bearish pennant resolves to the downside, attention shifts to high-timeframe support near $532–$537. This zone represents a key structural level where buyers previously stepped in, and it aligns with broader market support.

Breakdowns from pennant structures often produce measured moves that mirror the length of the prior impulse. In BNB’s case, this projection aligns closely with the $537 target, reinforcing its status as the next downside objective.

How price behaves when it reaches this area will be critical. A strong reaction could lead to temporary stabilization or a relief bounce, while a clean breakdown would expose BNB to further downside risk.

Market structure remains bearish

From a market structure perspective, BNB has yet to invalidate its bearish trend. Lower highs remain intact, and price continues to trade below key resistance levels. Without a decisive reclaim of structure and strong bullish volume, rallies are best viewed as corrective moves within a broader downtrend.

Volume behavior also supports this interpretation. Consolidation phases accompanied by declining volume are typical of continuation setups, rather than accumulation phases that precede reversals.

What to expect in the coming price action

From a technical, price-action, and market-structure perspective, BNB remains in a vulnerable position. As long as price continues to trade within the bearish pennant and below $659 resistance, the probability favors a continuation lower.

Ultimately, a confirmed breakdown would put the $532–$537 support zone firmly in focus. Until proven otherwise, the dominant trend remains bearish, and risk continues to favor downside continuation rather than a sustained reversal.

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Crypto World

XRP Ledger Introduces Permissioned DEX, Boosting Institutional Access

Published

1 minute ago

18 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Nexo Partners with Bakkt for US Crypto Exchange and Yield Programs

TLDR

The Permissioned DEX amendment on the XRP Ledger will activate in 24 hours.
This upgrade introduces controlled environments for trading within the decentralized exchange.
The amendment allows regulated financial institutions to participate while adhering to compliance requirements.
XRP’s demand remains strong, with nearly $4.5 million flowing into XRP-focused products in the last 24 hours.
The Permissioned DEX amendment builds on the previous XLS-80, enhancing the platform’s functionality for permissioned domains.

The Permissioned DEX amendment is set to go live on the XRP Ledger within 24 hours, marking a key milestone for the platform. This upgrade will introduce controlled environments for trading within the XRP Ledger’s decentralized exchange (DEX). The development is expected to facilitate broader participation, especially from regulated financial institutions.

XRP Ledger’s Permissioned DEX Amendment Activation

The Permissioned DEX amendment, also known as XLS 81, is set to activate on the XRP Ledger tomorrow. This amendment will create controlled trading environments, allowing only authorized users to place and accept offers. By integrating permissioning directly into the DEX protocol, it is designed to offer a secure space for regulated entities to trade.

According to XRPScan, the countdown to activation stands at just 23 hours. This feature builds upon the previous XLS-80, which focuses on Permissioned Domains. As part of this upgrade, users within these domains will have the ability to trade freely but only within a pre-approved group.

XRP’s Continued Demand Despite Market Shifts

XRP remains in strong demand, even as the broader cryptocurrency market experiences fluctuations. Rayhaneh Sharif Askary, the head of product and research at Grayscale, spoke about the consistent interest in XRP at a recent community event. “Advisors are constantly asked by their clients about XRP,” said Sharif Askary, underlining its continued relevance.

In fact, XRP has become one of the most talked-about assets, trailing only behind Bitcoin in some circles. This increasing interest is reflected in the recent data compiled by SoSoValue, showing XRP funds receiving nearly $4.5 million in the last 24 hours. Despite a market drop, the demand for XRP shows no signs of slowing down.

At the time of writing, XRP had fallen by 1.78% in the last 24 hours to $1.45. However, it had gained 3.59% over the past week. This indicates that, while it may face short-term volatility, XRP continues to attract attention from investors.

The introduction of the Permissioned DEX amendment is seen as a crucial step in XRP’s journey toward broader institutional adoption. By offering a controlled environment for trading, the XRP Ledger aims to cater to the needs of regulated financial institutions.

The integration of permissioning features within the DEX protocol allows these institutions to participate without violating compliance requirements. In the long term, this move could play a pivotal role in attracting more institutional investors to the XRP ecosystem.

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Crypto World

Bitwise And GraniteShares File Election Prediction ETFs

Published

8 minutes ago

18 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Bitwise And GraniteShares File Election Prediction ETFs

Exchange-traded fund issuers Bitwise and GraniteShares have filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch funds tied to event contracts on the outcome of US elections.

Bitwise filed a prospectus on Tuesday for a new lineup of ETFs branded as PredictionShares, with six prediction market-style ETFs on NYSE Arca.

The first two funds will pay out if either a Democrat or a Republican wins the U.S. presidential election in November 2028. The next two will pay out if either Democrats or Republicans win the Senate in November 2026, and the final two if either party wins the House.

“The fund’s investment objective is to provide capital appreciation to investors in the event that a member of the Democratic Party is the winner of the US Presidential election taking place on November 7, 2028,” read the prospectus.

Each fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in binary event contracts, or political prediction market derivatives traded on CFTC-regulated exchanges. These contracts settle at $1 if the referenced outcome occurs and $0 if it doesn’t.

“In the event that a member of the Democratic Party is not the winner of the 2028 Presidential election, the fund will lose substantially all of its value,” it explained.

Betting on a prediction market wrapped in an ETF

In essence, Bitwise is offering separate ETFs for each race — one for each party — and investors can choose which one to buy into.

The price of each fund’s shares on any given day reflects the market’s implied probability of that outcome, fluctuating between $0 and $1 based on polling, news, and sentiment.

ETF issuer GraniteShares also filed a prospectus on Tuesday offering six similar funds with the same structures based on US election outcomes.

“The financialization and ETF-ization of everything continues,” commented Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart.

Not the first prediction market-style ETF filings

“This is not the first filing of this kind, and I think it’s extremely unlikely that these will be the last,” added Seyffart, in reference to the Roundhill filing for similar funds on Feb. 14.

The Roundhill prospectus also offers six prediction market-style ETFs based on the outcomes of the presidential, Senate, and House elections.

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