As of 18 February 2026, here is the updated cryptocurrency market snapshot with revised data and narratives:
>>Market Capitalization & Dominance
•Total Market Cap: Rose approximately 0.74% to 1.24% in the last 24 hours to roughly $2.36 trillion to $2.41 trillion.
•Bitcoin Dominance: Trending significantly higher, steady near 56% to 60% as it continues to outperform altcoins during this period of consolidation.
•Altcoin Performance: Major assets like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) have seen steeper weekly declines (down ~15% and ~22% respectively) compared to Bitcoin, though ETH is attempting a mild rebound near the $1,950–$2,000 level.
>>Volume, Open Interest, & Liquidations
•Trading Volume: Ticked up more significantly, with a 10.87% daily increase for Bitcoin and a 35.05% surge for Ethereum.
•Open Interest & Liquidations: Bitcoin's open interest rose slightly (+0.68%), suggesting new short positions are entering as prices struggle. Total liquidations reached roughly $200 million in 24 hours, with long positions accounting for $138 million of that total.
>>Core Narratives & Sentiment
•Regulatory Progress: Sentiment is buoyed by the expected imminent passage of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (S. 3755/H.R. 3633) and the GENIUS Act, which aim to provide a formal oversight split between the SEC and CFTC.
•Institutional Flows: Institutional interest has been fragmented; while Ethereum ETFs saw a brief return to positive weekly flows (~$70.87 million by Feb 10), they still face periodic outflows, such as a $79.48 million exit on February 4.
•Market Sentiment: Currently characterized as "Extreme Fear" (index levels near 8–10) or "bleak" due to broader macro headwinds, including elevated bond yields and uncertainty related to AI and technology sector weakness.