Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing — a summary of the day's most important crypto news.
Grab your coffee and put the charts aside for a moment, as something exceptional seems to be happening in the crypto markets. Price fluctuations, institutional rumors, and uncertain macroeconomic indicators are blending into a story that traders are starting to understand only now.
Today's Crypto News: rumors of institutional morning sales meet bear market warnings
The recent price development of Bitcoin is interpreted from two different perspectives:
Growing macroeconomic caution, as indicated by the latest US Crypto News publication.
Increasing speculation about the behavior of institutional traders.
Some analysts believe that broader financial conditions are becoming less favorable for risky assets. Others ponder whether large market players are actively shaping short-term volatility.
As a result, the market narrative is increasingly driven by distrust as well as uncertainty about the functioning of cryptocurrency markets — beyond just charts and liquidity.
Macroeconomic signals point to pressure on risky assets
Macro strategist Mike McGlone recently warned that the price development of Bitcoin may reflect larger structural risks across financial markets.
McGlone noted that the pioneer cryptocurrency has returned to its long-term average near $66,000, although historically it has concentrated closer to $28,000.
"This chart shows why investing in Bitcoin or most risky assets is not advisable," McGlone wrote, adding that this data highlights the market's strong dependence on the continued strength of the Nasdaq-100.
He also indicated that the decline in cryptocurrency prices might be "somewhat anticipatory of a reversal of the wealth effect." This means that a decline in assets could anticipate tightening liquidity and a reduction in risk-taking by investors.
Such conditions have historically pressured speculative assets like cryptocurrencies and growth stocks.
Rumors of coordinated selling gain traction
At the same time, a different narrative has circulated widely in cryptocurrency trading circles. Analysts from Milk Road and market commentators have discussed rumors that some institutional trading desks might trigger sharp sell-offs immediately after the opening of the U.S. stock markets.
According to these claims, large sell orders hitting Bitcoin and its ETF funds around 10 AM Eastern Time could trigger panic, force leveraged positions into liquidation, and reveal pockets of low liquidity.
Traders suspect that the same parties may subsequently buy positions at a lower price.
Although these claims are currently unverified rumors, similar behavior has been observed repeatedly since late 2025, and market participants have been paying increasing attention to them.
ETF accumulation raises questions
Rumors have intensified as it has been revealed that Jane Street has become one of the largest buyers of BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). According to widely cited analyst information, the company acquired over 20 million IBIT shares by the end of 2025.
If this is true, Jane Street is already a significant institutional owner of Bitcoin exposure.
The situation has sparked discussions about whether institutional investments are primarily supporting Bitcoin's long-term outlook or whether short-term strategies are amplifying price fluctuations.
Nevertheless, ongoing speculation about coordinated trading tactics can undermine retail investor confidence. This is particularly significant in a market where leverage, low liquidity, and automatic liquidations can accelerate price movements.
Chart of the day
Here is a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:
Analyst claims that XRP worth $5 billion has been sold on Upbit: What does it mean for the price?
Hyperliquid hires a well-known crypto lawyer as CEO in a $28 million U.S. project.
Strategy's latest Bitcoin purchase lowers the average price by $25 — Why might the price of MSTR stock fall further?
Base loses $1.4 billion in TVL value amid growing view, cultural, and implementation conflicts
Bitcoin Cash set several records in February amid extreme market fear
Artificial intelligence dominates the markets and social media: Why are crypto AI tokens missing out on the price rally?
$870 million worth of Solana's supply is being released — Will it affect the risks to the SOL price?
Peter Thiel severs ties with ETHZ as treasury companies face increasing pressure
Crypto stock pre-market overview
Company Decision Rate February 17Pre-market summaryStrategy (MSTR) $128.67 $129.11 (+0.34%) Coinbase (COIN) $166.02 $166.80 (+0.47%) Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) $21.30 $21.26 (-0.19%) MARA Holdings (MARA) $7.51 $7.50 (-0.13%) Riot Platforms (RIOT) $14.65 $15.29 (+4.37%) Core Scientific (CORZ) $17.23 $17.20 (-0.17%)
Crypto stock markets are underway: Google Finance