Bitcoin Stalls Above $68 K While Altcoins Hold Their Ground – Top Sellers Keep the Market in a Tight Range
Date: 20 February 2026
By: Crypto Market Desk
Overview
After a brief surge that lifted Bitcoin above the $68,300 mark, the leading cryptocurrency has struggled to mount a sustained rally. The price is now hovering near a key support zone around $65,100, while a series of major altcoins — including Ether, XRP, Binance Coin, Solana, and Dogecoin — are trading in relatively narrow corridors. The market’s overall momentum is being capped by strong selling pressure at the upper end of the range, with institutional flows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs adding to the bearish bias.
Bitcoin: A Stretched Bull Run Meets Selling Pressure
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Price action: Bitcoin managed to breach the $68 k resistance on Tuesday, but each upward tick has been met with immediate sell‑offs. The cryptocurrency is currently perched just above the $65 k support level, a zone that has seen buying interest in recent sessions.
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Technical outlook:
- The 20‑day exponential moving average (EMA) sits near $71,250. A decisive close above this level would be needed for bulls to claim control and aim for the $74,500 “breakout” threshold.
- Conversely, a break under $65,100 could reopen a path toward the February‑6 low around $60,000, where a resurgence of buying could be anticipated.
- Monthly Bollinger Bands have tightened to a record narrowness, a pattern that historically precedes a strong directional move. All past occurrences have produced bullish breakouts, except for the 2022 collapse from $20 k to $16 k.
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Institutional flow: Data from SoSoValue shows U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs suffered net outflows of roughly $404 million this week. Unless a sizable influx reverses the three‑day loss trend, the outflow streak could extend to five weeks, limiting the upside potential that typically comes from institutional capital.
- Historical context: The market is on track for a fifth consecutive red monthly candle, echoing a losing streak not seen since the 2018/19 downturn when Bitcoin fell for six straight months. That period was followed by a 131 % rally over the next five months, suggesting that prolonged consolidation can precede rapid appreciation.
Altcoins: Gains Hold but the Ceiling Stays Firm
| Asset | Current Range | Key Support | Key Resistance | Near‑Term Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ether (ETH) | $1,750 – $2,111 | $1,897 (minor) | $2,111 (20‑day EMA) | A close above $2,111 could push ETH toward the 50‑day SMA around $2,665, with a potential surge to $3,045. |
| XRP | Below $1.50 EMA | Support line (≈$1.30) | 20‑day EMA $1.50 | Breaking the EMA may keep XRP in its descending channel; a drop below support could send it to $1.11‑$1.00. |
| BNB | $570 – $587 | $570 zone | $669 resistance | A break above $669 could launch BNB toward $730 and the 50‑day SMA near $797. Falling below $570 may target $500. |
| Solana (SOL) | $76 – $95 | $76 (immediate) | $95 break point | A sustained push above $95 would open the path to the 50‑day SMA around $114; a fall below $76 could see a dip to $67 and possibly $50. |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | $0.09 – $0.12 | $0.09 (EMA) | $0.12 breakout | Holding above $0.10 EMA may trigger a move toward $0.12; a breach of $0.09 could accelerate a slide to $0.08. |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | Below $548 EMA | $500 | $575 (50‑day SMA) | Staying under the EMA keeps pressure on BCH, with the next support at $500; a recovery above $575 could lift the price to $600‑$631. |
| Other midsize altcoins (HYPE, ADA, XMR, etc.) | Mixed consolidation | Various EMA / SMA levels | Resistance clusters between $20‑$38 | Similar pattern – buyers defending modest support, sellers guarding key resistance zones. |
Overall, the altcoin market is displaying a “range‑bound” character. Most tokens are defending short‑term supports but are unable to breach the immediate resistance levels, indicating that top‑side sellers are actively capping upside moves.
Market Sentiment and Drivers
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Seller dominance at the ceiling: Across the top ten cryptocurrencies, price action is repeatedly tested at the upper bounds of each daily range, only to be met with aggressive selling. This behavior suggests that short‑term profit‑taking and stop‑loss hunts are prevailing over bullish momentum.
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Institutional influence: The ongoing outflows from Bitcoin ETFs underline a reluctance from large‑scale investors to add to positions at current price levels. This lack of fresh capital reduces the likelihood of a clean breakout.
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Technical indicators: While the tightening of monthly Bollinger Bands points to a potential breakout, the prevailing price action and volume patterns lean toward a continued consolidation phase.
- Historical precedent: The current down‑month streak mirrors a period that preceded a significant rally in late 2019. Market participants often watch these patterns for clues, but any breakout would likely need to be driven by fresh institutional inflows or a catalytic macro event.
Key Takeaways
- Bitcoin is trapped in a narrow band. A decisive close above the $71,250 EMA is required for a bullish swing; otherwise, the asset may retest the $60,000 low.
- Altcoins are holding but lack breakout power. Most major tokens are defending short‑term support yet face firm resistance at the top of their ranges.
- Institutional outflows are a bearish headwind. Continued net withdrawals from U.S. spot BTC ETFs could keep the market under pressure for several more weeks.
- Technical signals are mixed. Record‑tight Bollinger Bands hint at volatility ahead, but current price action suggests the market may stay range‑bound until a clear catalyst emerges.
- Historical analogues warn of a potential rebound. Past prolonged down months have occasionally been followed by rapid rallies, but such turnarounds are not guaranteed.
The information in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Readers should perform their own due diligence and consider the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/price-predictions-2-20-btc-eth-xrp-bnb-sol-doge-bch-ada-hype-xmr?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
