Today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Bitcoin (BTC) continues to struggle under a persistent "risk-off" sentiment, currently trading in a consolidation zone after a volatile start to the year.
Current Market Snapshot
* Price: ~$68,360 – $68,450
* 24h Change: Down ~0.75%
* YTD Performance: Down ~24% (marking one of the weakest Q1 starts in years).
* Market Sentiment: "Weak Negative" as the market continues to deleverage from late 2025 highs.
Today's Top Stories
* Institutional "Quiet" Confidence: Despite the price slump, institutional inflows remain selective. Bitcoin ETFs saw a moderation in pace, but major banks like Bank of America are now reportedly allowing their 15,000 advisors to recommend spot Bitcoin ETFs to clients.
* The "Genius Act" Implementation: Markets are eyeing the upcoming implementation of the Genius Act this summer, which aims to provide a formal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Analysts believe this will eventually stabilize the broader crypto ecosystem.
* Real-World Adoption: Steak 'n Shake reported a significant boost in same-store sales since adopting Bitcoin payments in 2025, even using crypto revenue to fund "Bitcoin bonuses" for workers.
* Mining Updates: Hive Digital reported record revenue of $93.1M today (a 219% YoY increase) despite a net loss driven by expansion costs, showing that the network's hashrate continues to grow even in a bear market.
Key Technical Levels
| Support Level | Pivot Zone | Resistance Level |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 - $62,000 | $68,000 | $70,000 - $72,000 |
| This is the "must-hold" zone. A break below could trigger a slide to $50k. | Currently acting as a psychological baseline for intraday trading. | BTC has repeatedly failed to break above $70k this week. |
The Bottom Line
The "retail FOMO" of previous years has largely been replaced by institutional trading, which is currently "sideways" as it waits for clearer macroeconomic signals (inflation data and Fed interest rate decisions).
Would you like me to set a price alert for a specific BTC level, or should I check the latest updates on Ethereum?