Crypto Today: Bitcoin Consolidates Near $68K, DeFi Tokens Surge & ETF Outflows Continue

1. Bitcoin Holds Range Around $68,000 as Profit-Taking Kicks In

Bitcoin traded near $68,200 after slipping modestly, reflecting mild profit-taking following recent attempts to push higher. The market has been trading in a sideways range between roughly $65,000 and $70,000 over the past week, with momentum indicators remaining soft.
📎 Source: CoinCodex market update — BTC details
https://coincodex.com/article/81886/daily-market-update-for-february-17-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

2. Altcoins Show Selective Strength: Raydium, Trust Wallet Token & Cosmos Lead

Despite Bitcoin’s subdued price action, several altcoins posted notable gains. Raydium (RAY) climbed about +9.6%, Trust Wallet Token (TWT) rallied over +7%, and Cosmos (ATOM) was a standout with a ~7.8% gain. Other tokens like Nexo saw moderate increases, reflecting rotation into higher-beta assets.
📎 Source: CoinCodex altcoin snapshot — Feb 17, 2026
https://coincodex.com/article/81886/daily-market-update-for-february-17-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

3. Market Cap Slightly Up; Fear & Greed Still Extreme Fear

The total crypto market capitalization ticked up modestly to around $2.43 trillion, while the Fear & Greed Index remained in extreme fear territory (~10), indicating sustained pessimism among traders. DeFi sectors showed a slight uptick, suggesting selective interest where fundamentals or narratives support movement.
📎 Source: Crypto Market Update — Feb 17, 2026
https://www.coingabbar.com/en/crypto-currency-news/crypto-market-update-today-siren-rpl-tria-coin-feb-17-2026

4. ETF Outflows Continue, Reflecting Institutional Caution

Recent data shows continued net outflows from major Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds, underscoring lingering institutional caution. Over the past week, the combined outflow for Bitcoin and Ether ETFs reached around $521 million, as capital rotated toward some Solana and XRP products — a sign of selective institutional flows rather than broad conviction.
📎 Source: AInvest News — ETF flow data
https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-ether-etfs-combined-521-million-weekly-outflow-2602-16/

Takeaway

Feb 17 reflected a calm but defensive market: Bitcoin struggled to break upward from its range, while traders took profits and sentiment stayed cautious. Selective altcoin strength shows that capital isn’t gone — it’s moving — but macro and institutional flows remain cautious, a dynamic that tends to produce choppy price action until clearer catalysts arrive.