Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Why Even the Most Stubborn Holders are Jumping Ship!

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Key Highlights

  • It seems our long-term Bitcoin aficionados are offloading their precious coins at a loss, which could mean the market’s got a bit of a headache and is bracing for turbulence.
  • Altcoins are experiencing a mass exodus, with $209 billion slipping through the cracks over the last 13 months, leaving nothing but a trail of downward spirals.
  • Bitcoin is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to liquidity woes, while stocks lag behind like a sleepy tortoise, hinting at AI job jitters and credit strains in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Well, folks, it looks like Bitcoin (BTC) is having a bit of a meltdown. Our long-time holdouts-the stalwart guardians of digital gold-are now flocking to exchanges like bees to honey, and it ain’t for a picnic. This once-mighty cryptocurrency now finds itself languishing over 45% below its October 2025 peak of $126,080. Quite the fall from grace, if I do say so.

Even those who pride themselves on being long-term holders are starting to feel their wallets pinch, suggesting that perhaps the old adage of “hold on for dear life” might be getting a little long in the tooth. Darkfost, a wise analyst, points out that there’s an uptick in long-term holders shuffling their coins to Binance-a clear sign that the pressure to sell is mounting.

Rising LTH Inflows on Binance Reflect Growing Selling Pressure

“In this context, rising LTH inflows can be interpreted as a sign of intensifying selling pressure, even as the broader correction continues to unfold.” – By @Darkfost_Coc

– CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) February 18, 2026

“The rising inflows from these long-term holders hint at a rather frantic sell-off, even as the broader market correction continues its slow dance,” he elaborated. The Long-Term Holder Spent Output Profit Ratio (LTH SOPR)-what a mouthful!-is now sitting at a rather sad 0.88, dipping below the magic number of 1. It seems our long-term amigos are parting with their coins at a loss for the first time since the last bear rode through town.

Elevated LTH activity on exchanges

According to our analytical friend, there’s been a curious spike in funds flowing into Binance, nearly doubling the average yearly figures. Such peaks suggest that some of these long-term holders are rethinking their strategies amidst market uncertainty. We’ve seen several days of inflows that have outpaced the usual hustle and bustle.

Binance, with its deep pockets and high liquidity, has become the go-to watering hole for those with hefty bags of Bitcoin to offload. Consequently, this behavior could very well keep the pressure cooker boiling in the short to medium term.

This whole scenario, where long-term holders are cashing out at a loss, signals a period of adjustment; even the steadfast investors are adjusting their sails as the storm clouds gather. With the ongoing correction creating financial stress among this usually stoic bunch, we might just see more volatility if these trends keep dancing around.

Altcoin market faces extreme pressure

The altcoins, too, are not faring any better. As our savvy analyst IT Tech has noted, the cumulative buy/sell differences for altcoins-not including BTC and ETH-have seen a net outflow of $209 billion over the past 13 months. Quite the exodus!

“Retail is out. Smart money rotated. No institutional alt accumulation in sight. This is not a dip. It’s 13 months of continuous net selling on CEX spot,” IT Tech proclaimed. Sounds like the buyers of altcoins have packed their bags and left the building, leaving only the downtrend to greet us.

Broader implications for crypto and markets

Bitcoin’s plummet is also a reflection of the broader economic landscape, you see. BitMEX Co-Founder Arthur Hayes suggests that Bitcoin is the first to react to liquidity snafus while stocks follow like dazed sheep. He attributes this sluggishness to AI-related job displacement, which could throw a wrench in consumer credit.

Hayes estimates that U.S. banks may be staring down the barrel of $330 billion in potential consumer credit losses and $227 billion in mortgage losses if a fifth of knowledge workers find themselves out of a job thanks to our robotic overlords. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq seems blissfully unaware of these impending changes, potentially leading to a delightful game of market misalignment.

As I pen this, Bitcoin is trading at $67,987.96, up a mere 0.17% in the last 24 hours and enjoying a 27% rise over the last month, according to CoinMarketCap. What a rollercoaster ride it has been!

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2026-02-18 15:17