Last week (17-23/2/2026) was one of the most volatile weeks of the year: Bitcoin started around 68k but quickly fell below 65k, hitting a temporary low of 64.2k last night – CoinGlass data recorded futures liquidation reaching 468 million dollars, mainly from long BTC. Ether and altcoins fared worse, with ETH dipping over 5%.
Main reason? Macro shock compounded: US tariffs continue to escalate (Trump threatens new 15-20%), amplified geopolitical tension, plus thin liquidity during Asian hours makes every bad news exaggerated. Fear & Greed Index falls to extreme fear (record low 5-12), reflecting panic – many short-term holders capitulate, large whales face significant liquidation (one case of 61 million dollars on HTX).
However, a multi-faceted view is needed: This is not yet a deadly bear market like 2022. On-chain data shows accumulation from long-term holders is still occurring, ETF outflows are slowing, and the SEC pivot (dropping cases against Binance/Coinbase) remains a positive long-term signal. This February feels like an “echo” of the post-halving correction, where leverage flushes to make the market healthier.
For Vietnamese users – especially newbies and mid-term holders – this week brings clear lessons. Don't revenge trade or FOMO chase weak rebounds; instead, take advantage of the dip to DCA via Auto Invest Binance (set weekly buy BTC/ETH with 50-100 USD). P2P VND remains stable, but monitor layer-2 gas fees due to high volatility. More importantly: keep a trade journal, review your portfolio weekly, and remember that extreme fear often signals a long-term buying opportunity (history shows strong rebounds after such low fear levels).
Next week? Pay attention to Fed speech, PPI data, and the MSTR Bitcoin Enterprise Summit event (24/2) – which could bring a catalyst for enterprise adoption.
Do you think this dip is an opportunity or a bigger risk? Share your perspective in the comments for Wendy.