Crypto Today: Bitcoin Struggles Below $68K, ETFs See Outflows & Institutional and Market Sentiment Stay Mixed

1. Bitcoin Trades Near $67,600 as Weakness Persists

Bitcoin continued to trade under pressure, hovering around $67,643, down modestly in the past 24 hours as market volatility remains elevated and sentiment weak. Ethereum traded near $1,995, reflecting ongoing pressure around psychological levels.
📎 Source: CoinCodex market data — Feb 18, 2026
https://coincodex.com/article/81918/daily-market-update-for-february-18-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (coincodex.com)

2. Crypto ETFs See Continued Outflows After Brief Reprieve

U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded net outflows again on Feb 17, reversing a short-lived inflow. Multiple products contributed to the outflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT seeing significant outflow while some Grayscale products saw minor inflows.
📎 Source: CoinNess crypto ETF live feed — Feb 18, 2026
https://coinness.com/en/news/1028178 (coinness.com)
And broader weekly ETF data show spot ETF outflows hitting ~$1.7 billion, highlighting sustained distribution pressure in major products.

3. BlackRock/ Coinbase Reveal ETH ETF Staking Revenue Structure

BlackRock and Coinbase confirmed in an amended SEC filing that their proposed iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF will retain 18% of staking rewards, with the remainder going to investors — revealing one of the clearest staking economics to date in a regulated ETF framework.
📎 Source: Crypto.News — BlackRock & Coinbase ETH ETF staking split
https://crypto.news/blackrock-coinbase-eth-etf-staking-revenue-2026/ (crypto.news)

4. Market Sentiment Still Deep in Fear, Mixed Coin Moves

The broader crypto market sentiment remains entrenched in extreme fear, with the Fear & Greed Index very low and overall cap slightly down. Despite this, a few altcoins posted outsized gains — e.g., World Liberty Financial (WLFI) rose ~18%, and Convex Finance and Jito also showed strength, signaling localized rotation within a generally bearish environment.
📎 Source: CoinCodex top movers & market sentiment — Feb 18, 2026
https://coincodex.com/article/81918/daily-market-update-for-february-18-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (coincodex.com)

Takeaway

Feb 18 reflects a market that’s in consolidation with continued defensive positioning:

Bitcoin remains weak below key levels.
Crypto ETFs are seeing net outflows, underlining institutional caution.
Structural product details (like ETH ETF staking cuts) are emerging, shaping how institutional products might perform.
Some altcoins still rally, showing that capital is selective.

Overall, crypto markets still look for a decisive catalyst — whether macro, regulatory, or institutional — to flip sentiment from fear to confidence.