Between 15:15 and 15:30 (UTC) on February 26, 2026, BTC 15-minute candlestick returns recorded a -0.59% decline, with the price ranging from 66,855.1 to 67,394.9 USDT, and an amplitude of 0.80%. The abnormal movement occurred amid overall market sentiment being subdued and increased volatility, drawing significant attention from industry users. Short-term selling pressure released caused BTC to show a clear downward trend during this window.
The main drivers of this abnormal movement were large on-chain holders actively reducing their positions and a noticeable lack of market liquidity. On-chain data showed multiple large BTC inflows to mainstream trading platforms during this period, combined with rising sell order depth on spot order books, leading to fragile short-term price support. The spread between spot and perpetual contracts widened, with some platforms experiencing negative premiums on spot, reflecting rising bearish sentiment.
Additionally, long-term market confidence remained fragile, and macro policy uncertainties amplified volatility pressure. Recent Federal Reserve chair nominations were interpreted as hawkish, with expectations of rate hikes strengthening. Global trade tensions persisted, and risk asset funds continued to flow out. Meanwhile, ETF fund inflows slowed, institutional caution increased, leverage levels decreased, reducing market resilience. The number of active on-chain addresses and trading volume declined simultaneously, while large whale transfer frequency increased, all reinforcing a resonant downward price effect. Arbitrage and hedging activities further intensified short-term fluctuations.
Current short-term volatility risks remain, with limited buy-side support on the order book, caution is advised against further price drops. It is recommended to continuously monitor macro policy changes, large on-chain holder activities, active address and trading volume indicators, and spot-perpetual spread conditions. The short-term market may experience increased volatility or sudden capital shifts; users should manage risks prudently and stay attentive to subsequent market developments.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Project Eleven awards Q-Day 1 BTC bounty: researchers use a quantum computer to crack a 15-bit elliptic curve key
Project Eleven, a nonprofit organization focusing on research into “Q-Day (Quantum Computer Breaks Blockchain Cryptography Day),” announced on 4/24 that it would award a $1 Bitcoin bounty to independent researcher Giancarlo Lelli. Using a Shor algorithm variant on publicly accessible cloud quantum computer hardware, Lelli successfully cracked a 15-bit elliptic curve key—marking the largest public quantum attack demonstration to date.
Attack Scale and Significance
Project Content Winner Giancarlo Lelli (Independent Researcher) Attack Target 15-bit elliptic curve key, searching 32,767 possibilities Using Hardware Publicly accessible cloud quantum computers Algorithm Shor
ChainNewsAbmedia8m ago
Nasdaq-Listed Nakamoto Unveils Active Bitcoin Derivatives Strategy Since Q1 2026
Gate News message, April 24 — Nakamoto, a Nasdaq-listed company, has announced an actively managed Bitcoin derivatives program running since Q1 2026. The strategy aims to generate recurring volatility income from a portion of the company's Bitcoin holdings while hedging against downside price
GateNews26m ago
Metaplanet Issues $50 Million in Zero-Interest Bonds to Fund Bitcoin Purchases
Gate News message, April 24 — Japanese bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet announced on Friday that it is issuing 8 billion Japanese yen (approximately $50 million) in zero-interest ordinary bonds to fund future bitcoin purchases. The bond issuance was fully subscribed by EVO Fund, a Cayman
GateNews47m ago
Abraxas Capital Deposits 4,835 BTC Worth $378M to Major CEX
Gate News message, April 24 — According to on-chain data tracked by Lookonchain, Abraxas Capital deposited 4,835 BTC, valued at approximately $378 million, to a major CEX in the past hour.
The institutional investor also transferred 6,000 XAUT tokens, worth approximately $28 million, to several maj
GateNews1h ago
Researcher Breaks 15-Bit Elliptic Curve Key, Wins 1 BTC Bounty
Independent researcher Giancarlo Lelli derived a 15-bit elliptic curve key using a publicly accessible quantum computer, marking what Project Eleven called the "largest quantum attack" on elliptic curve cryptography to date, according to the startup. Project Eleven awarded Lelli a 1 BTC bounty,
CryptoFrontier2h ago
GSR Debuts BESO ETF With Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
GSR debuts BESO ETF with active strategy, adjusting Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana allocations weekly to outperform benchmarks.
ETF records nearly $5M in first-day volume, signaling early investor interest in diversified crypto investment products.
Launch aligns with growing ETF momentum as
CryptoFrontNews2h ago
