On February 21, 2026 at 15:30, Bitcoin traded near $68,000 as total crypto market capitalization stood around $2.33–$2.41 trillion, up ~1% in 24 hours. According to this report, extreme fear persists (Index 14), and a push above $69,000 could trigger over $800 million in short liquidations amid tariff changes taking effect on February 24.

Bitfinex stated on Feb. 20, 2026 via X that existing quantum computers are far from capable of compromising Bitcoin's cryptography and that the associated risk is still theoretical. The exchange argued that millions of stable qubits and large-scale Shor's algorithm would be needed, giving developers time to migrate to new wallet designs, lattice-based signatures and proposals like BIP 360, with any real threat only expected to emerge around the mid-2030s to 2040s.

Santiment reported on Friday that retail calls for Bitcoin to reach $150K–$200K, and even $50K–$100K, are drying up, framing the pullback in hype as a healthy sign as sentiment returns to neutral. Bitcoin fell to near $60,000 on Feb. 6 and was around $67,847 at publication, while the Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered a score of 8 in "Extreme Fear" on Saturday.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," disclosed that he recently bought 1 Bitcoin for about $67,000 and outlined two reasons for this move. He links the purchase to expectations of massive U.S. dollar printing amid debt concerns and to Bitcoin's capped 21 million supply. He also reiterated a 2013 prediction of a major stock market crash, which he now believes is imminent.

On 21 February 2026, macro strategist Lyn Alden explained on the Coin Stories podcast why Bitcoin's cycle is subdued. She said capital has flowed into AI equities like Nvidia, leaving BTC near $67,849 versus its October 2025 high of $126,100, and cautioned against a rapid rebound. Alden sees potential $10,000–$20,000 downside before a durable bottom.

On Friday, cryptocurrency markets remained steady as US President Donald Trump announced a new universal 10% tariff on imports following a Supreme Court ruling against his earlier emergency powers strategy. Bitcoin hovered near $67,800 and Ether traded around $1,960, while the broader digital asset market capitalization stayed close to $2.33 trillion with traders showing caution rather than panic. Over the past year, the number of Bitcoin addresses holding at least $1 million fell about 16%, even as the policy environment in Washington became more crypto-friendly.

On 21 February 2026, Capriole Fund founder Charles Edwards argued that Bitcoin's fair value should already be marked down by about 20% to reflect the rising threat from quantum computing. He warns that if the network fails to transition to quantum-resistant cryptography, a future "Q-Day" could expose 20–30% of the supply to theft and forced selling, potentially driving much steeper valuation discounts in the coming years.

Bitcoin sentiment remains deep in extreme fear, with the Fear & Greed Index at 7 and stuck in that zone for 22 straight days. BTC has struggled to recover, trading around $67,700 after a bounce from $60,000. Thresholds mark fear below 47, greed above 53, and extreme bands at 25 and 75.