By Francisco Rodrigues (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

Bitcoin BTC$67,801.44 has gained 2% in the past 24 hours, scrambling to top $68,000 after a selloff earlier this month. That’s done little to ease sentiment, with the “Fear and Greed” index remaining at the “extreme fear” level for a 20th straight day.

André Dragosch, the head of research in Europe at Bitwise, said consolidation is expected after the crash, which saw bitcoin drop to a $60,000 low.

“Apart from Covid, bitcoin doesn’t usually show V-shaped recoveries after strong capitulations,” he told CoinDesk. “The most likely case is that we continue to move sideways to down.”

Still, Dragosch pointed to signs for optimism. Prediction markets now place the odds of the U.S.’s Clarity Act passing in 2026 near 80%. He described the bill as a major catalyst for alternative tokens such as ether (ETH) and solana (SOL). Bitwise’s internal Cryptoasset Sentiment Index registered neutral, he added.

“On the macro front, bitcoin continues to exhibit significant ‘discounts’ with respect to global money supply, gold, and the overall macro growth outlook. Bitcoin also exhibits a significant undervaluation relative to global Bitcoin ETP flows,” Dragosch said. “ETP flows are still relatively weak, but once risk appetite and flows return, this suggests we could see a significant catch-up in bitcoin.”

Caution lingers, however. Data from CryptoQuant shows large bitcoin holders have moved coins onto Binance at record levels. Such transfers often signal intent to sell, increasing the supply on spot markets and potentially weighing on prices.

Dragosch rejected concerns bitcoin may be a “canary in the macro coal mine,” signaling tighter liquidity and rising recession risk. The U.S. yield curve and other forward indicators suggest continued money supply growth, he said. Global liquidity is expanding at more than 10% a year, a backdrop that has not typically aligned with extended bitcoin bear markets, he added.

Indeed, prediction markets have reduced the odds of a recession in the U.S. this year. The chance of that happening plunged from over 40% in mid-2025 to just above 20%.

The crypto market may nevertheless see volatility rise into the weekend. Later today, U.S. core PCE index data is released, which could provide clues on future Fed policy direction.

Traders are bracing for a tight rise from previous figures. While higher inflation traditionally supports the case for scarce assets, a hawkish reaction from the Fed could drive the dollar higher, further pressuring risk assets into the weekend. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today’s activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today

What to Watch

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

• Crypto
• Macro
  • Feb. 20. 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Core PCE price index MoM for December est. 0.4% (Prev. 0.2%); YoY est. 2.9% (Prev. 2.8%)
  • Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. GDP growth rate QoQ Adv for Q4 est. 3. (Prev. 4.4%)
  • Feb. 20, 9:45 a.m.: U.S. S&P Global manufacturing PMI flash for February est. 52.6 (Prev. 52.4).
  • Feb. 20, 10 a.m.: U.S. Michigan consumer sentiment final for February est. 57.3 (Prev. 56.4)
• Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)

Token Events

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

• Governance votes & calls
  • Aavegotchi DAO is voting to consolidate assets from depleted wallets into the Liquidity wallet to simplify operations. Voting ends Feb. 22.
  • Fluid DAO is voting to withdraw 1 million GHO and 1 million FLUID from the treasury to the Team Multisig to fund JupLend rewards and protocol incentives. Voting ends Feb. 22.
  • GMX is voting on a proposal to implement tiered trading fee discounts for stakers and a staker-weighted trading leaderboard. Voting ends Feb. 22.
• Unlocks
  • Feb. 20: LayerZero (ZRO) to unlock 5.98% of its circulating supply worth $48.33 million.
  • Feb. 20: Kaito (KAITO) to unlock 10.64% of its circulating supply worth $10.77 million.
• Token Launches

Conferences

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

Market Movements

• BTC is up 1.97% from 4 p.m. ET Thursday at $68,220.42 (24hrs: +1.98%)
• ETH is up 1.1% at $1,969.19 (24hrs: +0.12%)
• CoinDesk 20 is up 1.5% at 1,960.80 (24hrs: +1.14%)
• Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is up 2 bps at 2.83%
• BTC funding rate is at -0.0047% (-5.1936% annualized) on Binance

• DXY is unchanged at 97.95
• Gold futures are up 0.97% at $5,046.00
• Silver futures are up 3.9% at $80.66
• Nikkei 225 closed down 1.12% at 56,825.70
• Hang Seng closed down 1.1% at 26,413.35
• FTSE is up 0.69% at 10,700.09
• Euro Stoxx 50 is up 0.48% at 6,088.42
• DJIA closed on Thursday down 0.54% at 49,395.16
• S&P 500 closed down 0.28% at 6,861.89
• Nasdaq Composite closed down 0.31% at 22,682.73
• S&P/TSX Composite closed up 0.61% at 33,594.98
• S&P 40 Latin America closed up 0.83% at 3,738.74
• U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is down 0.4 bps at 4.071%
• E-mini S&P 500 futures are up 0.2% at 6,890.75
• E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are up 0.29% at 24,930.00
• E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average Index futures are up 0.12% at 49,516.00

Bitcoin Stats

• BTC Dominance: 59.04% (+0.4%)
• Ether-bitcoin ratio: 0.02883 (-0.93%)
• Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 1,046 EH/s
• Hashprice (spot): $29.88
• Total fees: 2.36 BTC / $157,285
• CME Futures Open Interest: 119,935 BTC
• BTC priced in gold: 13.5 oz.
• BTC vs gold market cap: 4.54%

Technical Analysis

• The chart shows bitcoin’s weekly price moves against the dollar.
• BTC/USD weekly is still trading at its 200-week exponential moving average, waiting for a confirmation by the end of the week.
• There are no clear RSI divergences or signs of a bottom so far.

Crypto Equities

• Coinbase Global (COIN): closed on Thursday at $165.94 (+1.15%), +1.98% at $169.23 in pre-market
• Circle Internet (CRCL): closed at $61.92 (-1.95%), +2.08% at $63.21
• Galaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $21.63 (-0.46%)
• Bullish (BLSH): closed at $32.37 (+1.63%), -1.05% at $32.03
• MARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $7.96 (+6.13%), +1.63% at $8.09
• Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $16.22 (+4.71%), +1.36% at $16.44
• Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $17.98 (+4.11%)
• CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $9.82 (+5.93%), +1.43% at $9.96
• CoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI): closed at $40.69 (+1.62%)
• Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $10.42 (+5.47%)

Crypto Treasury Companies

• Strategy (MSTR): closed at $129.45 (+3.39%), +2.48% at $132.66
• Strive (ASST): closed at $8.12 (+0.87%), +0.99% at $8.20
• SharpLink Gaming (SBET): closed at $6.80 (+3.03%)
• Upexi (UPXI): closed at $0.67 (-3.33%), +3.48% at $0.69
• Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.10 (+0.00%)

ETF Flows

Spot BTC ETFs

• Daily net flows: -$165.8 million
• Cumulative net flows: $53.91 billion
• Total BTC holdings ~1.26 million

Spot ETH ETFs

• Daily net flows: -$130.1 million
• Cumulative net flows: $11.55 billion
• Total ETH holdings ~5.73 million

Source: Farside Investors

While You Were Sleeping

XRP held steady near $1.42 as volatility dropped to levels last seen before a major 2024 rally, raising questions about whether the downtrend is exhausting.

News Background

• XRP has declined roughly 61% from its all-time high during the current stretch of market turbulence, but recent price action suggests the selloff may be slowing. Losses have moderated into consolidation, with small gains across shorter timeframes replacing sharp directional moves.
• Notably, XRP’s historical volatility has fallen to 96, matching levels last seen in June 2024 — a period that marked the bottom of a prior downtrend before a rally into November.
• The compression has fueled speculation that XRP may be entering a similar base-building phase.
• Some analysts point to parallels with earlier cycle structures, including the extended consolidation that preceded the 2017 breakout.

Price Action Summary

• XRP slipped 0.14% to $1.42
• Price tested and held support near $1.39
• Volume surged nearly 94% above average during the breakdown
• Recovery stalled near $1.428–$1.431 resistance

Technical Analysis

• The session’s key moment came when XRP tested $1.3915 on heavy volume before stabilizing. While the bounce completed a 38.2% retracement, momentum faded as price approached $1.44, the daily pivot and near-term ceiling.
• Structure remains cautious below $1.44–$1.45, but the successful defense of $1.39 suggests sellers are losing urgency. Declining volume during consolidation points to compression rather than fresh distribution.

What traders say is next?

• Traders view this as a compression setup.
• If XRP reclaims $1.44, it opens room toward $1.50 and potentially $1.62.
  If $1.39 breaks, downside risk shifts toward $1.35.
• With volatility near prior cycle lows, the next decisive move may be less about direction now — and more about how long this compression can hold before expansion resumes.

According to media reports, Bitcoin’s fall from its all-time high in October 2025 to February’s low near $60k triggered the largest outflow from spot Bitcoin ETF funds since their launch in January 2024.

Glassnode data show that more than 100,000 BTC were withdrawn from these funds in January alone, though the total remains substantial, with roughly 1.25 million coins still held on balance sheets.

Analysing trading volumes on Coinbase, however, reveals a trend of declining activity (as indicated by the arrow). From a long-term perspective, this may suggest the ETF outflow trend is easing, potentially allowing the market to resume its multi-year uptrend. How plausible is this scenario?

Technical Analysis of BTC/USD

Bitcoin’s price fluctuations are currently compressing between the thick lines on the chart – a sign of market stabilisation, where supply and demand appear balanced.

Notable bullish patterns include:

• A double bottom (A1–B1) on 11–12 February, aligning with the lower boundary of the long-term descending channel.
• A second double bottom (A2–B2) on 18–19 February, featuring a slightly lower secondary low.

In the short term, traders might anticipate a rebound towards the upper boundary of the triangle. While the descending channel remains relevant, a decisive bullish break of this consolidation pattern would signal improving sentiment in the crypto market following February’s panic selling.

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Artificial Intelligence is no longer an experimental capability; it is redefining how businesses generate revenue, manage risk, optimize operations, and compete at scale. In 2026, the impact of AI on businesses is visible in faster decision cycles, predictive supply chains, autonomous customer engagement systems, and data-driven product innovation. Intelligence is no longer layered onto systems; it is becoming the system itself.

Enterprises that embed AI into their operational core are compressing costs, accelerating time-to-market, and increasing customer lifetime value. Those who hesitate remain trapped in fragmented data environments and reactive decision models. The competitive divide is widening not because of access to AI tools, but because of how strategically AI is integrated into enterprise architecture, often with the support of an experienced AI Development Company capable of aligning technology with measurable business outcomes.

This guide breaks down the real impact of AI on business performance, from data maturity and workflow orchestration to ROI measurement and autonomous operations. It provides a structured roadmap for leaders who want to move beyond pilots, scale intelligently through comprehensive AI Development Services, and convert AI investment into a measurable enterprise advantage.

1. AI in 2026: From Pilots to Production – The Adoption Reality Check

Despite massive hype and rapid investment growth, the journey from pilot projects to enterprise-wide AI adoption remains uneven.

• Gartner forecasts global AI spending will exceed $2.5 trillion in 2026, with AI services, infrastructure, and software driving massive enterprise budgets.
• Research shows that only a small percentage of companies have AI fully embedded in core workflows, with as few as 5% deriving significant value from their deployments, despite broad adoption efforts.
• IBM’s Global AI Adoption Index reports 42% of enterprises actively deploying AI, while another 40% remain in the exploration stage.

This gap between adoption and actual impact highlights a defining theme of 2026: AI is no longer optional, but far from fully realized.

2. Why Many AI Projects Fall Short: The “Execution Divide”

Data shows that enterprises frequently struggle to scale AI beyond proof-of-concept (POC) due to:

1. Lack of AI-Ready Data

AI systems are only as effective as the data that fuels them. Fragmented, noisy, or siloed data pipelines undermine model accuracy and enterprise insight generation.

2. Misalignment of Strategy with Business Outcomes

Executives often invest in technology first and strategy second, leading to solutions that don’t solve real business problems.

3. Organizational Resistance

AI transformations require process redesign, workforce shift, and governance maturity, not just technology. Without aligning people and workflows, most initiatives stall.

4. Overemphasis on Tools vs. Outcomes

Although 78% of organizations report using AI, only a fraction derive a measurable business impact because their workflows remain unchanged.

This execution gap is why many teams invest heavily but see little strategic value.

3. The New Enterprise AI Playbook: From Vision to Scale

To succeed in 2026, enterprises must follow a structured transformation path:

Stage 1: Discovery & Proof of Value

• Define specific business outcomes (e.g., cost reduction, revenue uplift, customer personalization).
• Identify high-impact use cases (e.g., automated claims processing, dynamic pricing models).

Stage 2: Integration & Orchestration

• Enterprises partnering with an AI Development Company for Business are embedding generative models directly into core operational workflows.
• Establish robust data governance frameworks.

Stage 3: Optimization & Scaling

• Transition from discrete models to a connected AI ecosystem that powers cross-functional intelligence.
• Track ROI consistently and build feedback loops for continuous improvement.

Stage 4: Autonomous Operations

• Mature organizations will reach a point where AI proactively manages resource allocation, pricing, and risk response.

According to Gartner’s 2026 Enterprise AI Outlook, the maturity of enterprise AI outcomes is increasingly determined by data readiness, seamless process integration, and clearly measurable ROI rather than by technology expenditure or model scale alone.

4. Demonstrable ROI: How AI Delivers Real Business Value

The most successful companies measure AI through three ROI dimensions:

Direct ROI

• Operational cost reduction
• Efficiency gains via automation and workflow augmentation

Indirect ROI

• Increased customer lifetime value through personalization
• Better customer satisfaction via AI-driven experiences

Strategic ROI

• Shorter product cycles
• Faster innovation via predictive insights and AI-augmented R&D

Organizations leveraging structured AI Development Services ensure that AI initiatives are aligned with measurable business objectives, linking model performance directly to revenue growth, operational efficiency, and strategic impact.

Recent enterprise research from Deloitte finds that AI delivers measurable outcomes such as enhanced customer relationships, operational efficiency, and increased revenue potential, though many companies are still in early phases of realization.

5. Generative AI: The New Enterprise Advantage

Generative AI has evolved from experimental technology into a critical enterprise capability. Unlike traditional AI that analyzes data, generative AI can create content, simulate scenarios, generate code, draft reports, design workflows, and support strategic planning. Enterprises partnering with an AI Development Company for Business embed these models directly into daily operational workflows across customer service, finance, marketing, procurement, and knowledge management.

Enterprises are deploying task-specific AI agents that handle repetitive, cognitive workloads, automate multi-step processes, support decision-making, and continuously optimize through real-time feedback. By engaging AI software developers, companies move beyond pilots toward integrated, enterprise-scale systems. These enterprise deployments are strengthened through structured AI software development services that ensure scalability, governance alignment, and long-term system resilience.

The result is a structural shift from standalone AI tools to digital workforce augmentation. Generative AI, implemented through AI-Powered Development Company expertise, becomes a strategic foundation that enhances productivity, accelerates execution, and transforms organizational performance into a scalable competitive advantage.

6. The Strategic Benefits of Partnering with an AI Development Company

Implementing AI at scale is not simply a technical exercise; it is an architectural transformation that touches data, workflows, governance, and long-term business strategy. Organizations that attempt to build advanced AI capabilities in isolation often encounter scalability bottlenecks, integration gaps, and unclear ROI.

Enterprises evaluating the best AI development companies prioritize scalability, governance maturity, architectural depth, and measurable ROI over experimental capability alone. Partnering with an experienced AI Development Company provides structured expertise that strengthens execution quality, accelerates deployment maturity, and ensures measurable business outcomes.

Deep Technical Architecture Capabilities

Enterprise-grade AI requires more than model deployment. It demands expertise in machine learning pipelines, large language models, agent-based orchestration, distributed systems, and secure infrastructure. Specialized AI teams understand how to design systems that are scalable, modular, and production-ready, not just experimental prototypes.

Data & Workflow Alignment

AI performance is fundamentally dependent on data quality and system integration. Strategic partners establish governed data pipelines, eliminate silos, and ensure models are embedded directly into operational workflows. This alignment transforms AI from a disconnected layer into a core operational engine.

Outcome-Driven Execution

Successful AI initiatives begin with business objectives, not algorithms. Experienced AI partners define clear performance metrics, build measurement frameworks, and align deployments with revenue growth, cost efficiency, and customer experience improvements. This approach ensures that AI investments translate into tangible enterprise value.

Governance, Risk, and Responsible AI

Enterprise deployment requires structured oversight. From model bias mitigation to compliance frameworks, data privacy safeguards, and auditability, governance must be engineered from the start. Strong AI partnerships integrate risk management and ethical design principles into system architecture, thus reducing exposure and ensuring long-term sustainability.

7. Workforce Transformation: The New Enterprise Skill Imperative

Artificial Intelligence is not merely optimizing workflows; it is redefining how work itself is structured, executed, and measured. As automation expands across cognitive and operational domains, roles are not simply being replaced; they are being redesigned. Organizations leveraging AI Development Services ensure that AI adoption is aligned with workforce transformation and skill development.

Across industries, millions of positions are evolving as AI systems absorb repetitive analysis, data processing, and routine decision-making tasks. Forward-looking enterprises engage ai software developers to equip employees with AI fluency, embedding it into performance metrics, leadership expectations, and career development pathways.

The emerging model is human enhanced by machine intelligence. Competitive advantage will depend not only on AI-Powered Development Company expertise but also on building intelligent teams capable of leveraging AI systems at scale.

8. Building the AI-First Enterprise: The Future of AI Development Services

Over the next decade, AI will move beyond workflow support and become the structural backbone of enterprise design. Intelligence will be embedded across finance, operations, marketing, supply chains, product development, and risk management, not as a feature, but as core infrastructure built with AI Development Services.

In AI-first organizations:

Decision cycles compress dramatically

Real-time data modeling enables dynamic forecasting, adaptive pricing, automated risk scoring, and continuous operational recalibration.

Customer engagement becomes predictive rather than reactive

Behavioral modeling anticipates needs, optimizes touchpoints, and adjusts experiences across channels in milliseconds.

Innovation becomes systematic

AI-assisted research, simulation environments, and rapid prototyping reduce development timelines and increase experimentation velocity.

Competitive strength compounds over time

Self-improving systems continuously refine algorithms using proprietary data, creating intelligence loops that are difficult for competitors to replicate.

The Standard for Modern Enterprise Excellence

Artificial Intelligence has moved from optional experimentation to operational expectation. Its impact on business performance is seen in margin expansion, faster decision-making, improved capital allocation, and measurable revenue growth. Enterprises must leverage AI Development Services to strengthen data foundations, align AI initiatives with financial metrics, embed governance, and build workforce capability for AI collaboration.

Organizations that treat AI as core infrastructure and partner with a trusted AI Development Company will outperform peers in efficiency, innovation speed, and customer value creation. Supported by custom AI development, businesses can institutionalize AI today to shape tomorrow’s market dynamics. Antier empowers enterprises with scalable, secure AI and blockchain solutions, driving measurable ROI through expert AI-Powered Development Company services with the dedicated support of experienced professionals guiding every stage of innovation and implementation.

Tether’s USDT, the world’s largest US dollar-pegged stablecoin, is heading for its steepest monthly decline in years as large holders step up redemptions, according to blockchain data.

The circulating supply of USDt (USDT) fell by about $1.5 billion so far in February, following an $1.2 billion decrease in January, according to Artemis Analytics data reported by Bloomberg. This puts USDT on track for the biggest monthly drop in three years, weeks after the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX in November 2022.

The USDT supply logged a $2 billion decrease in December 2022 after the collapse of FTX and its 150 subsidiaries sent shockwaves through the crypto industry.

The decline may signal a contraction in crypto market liquidity, as Tether’s USDT is the primary on-ramp for crypto investors. Its $183 billion market capitalization accounts for about 71% of the total stablecoin market, according to CoinMarketCap. 

Cointelegraph reached out to Tether for comment on what is driving the February supply drop, but had not received a response by publication.

Related: BlackRock enters DeFi as institutional crypto push accelerates: Finance Redefined

Total stablecoin market cap flat in February

The pullback in USDT has not translated into a broader contraction across dollar-linked stablecoins.

The total market capitalization of stablecoins across all exchanges has risen 2.33% so far in February, from $300 billion to $307 billion, according to DeFiLlama data.

While the two leading stablecoins, USDT and Circle’s USDC (USDC), both decreased by 1.7% and 0.9%, respectively, the Trump-family-linked World Liberty Financial’s USD1 (USD1) stablecoin recorded a 50% increase in market capitalization over the past month and was valued at $5.1 billion as of Friday, according to DeFiLlama.

Related: Wells Fargo sees ‘YOLO’ trade driving $150B into Bitcoin and risk assets

Whales and smart money traders offload USDT, but fresh wallets stepping in

Whales, or large cryptocurrency investors, have been cutting their USDT holdings, but new participants are bringing fresh demand for the leading stablecoin.

Whale wallets sold $69.9 million USDT across 22 wallets over the past week, marking a 1.6-fold increase in the selling rate of this cohort, according to crypto intelligence platform Nansen.

The leading traders by returns, tracked as “smart money,” have also been net sellers of USDT. At the same time, new wallets created in the past 15 days bought roughly $591 million worth of USDT over the week, according to the platform.

The mixed flows highlight a market split between large holders redeeming or reallocating capital and new entrants stepping in to take the other side, even as overall stablecoin issuance remains broadly steady.

Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight