SnapShot 246

Hello SnapShotters,

Bitcoin began the week at about US$68,500, drifting lower from last Friday’s close and still confined to the $65,000 to $72,000 band, after a modest rebound following cooling CPI prints.

On the other hand, PCE inflation was about 2.8% year on year, above the 2% target. The numbers reinforced the tone of the Fed minutes released on Wednesday: no rush to resume rate cuts, and rate hikes aren’t off the table if inflation remains sticky.

The hawkish slant of the minutes softened BTC to about $66,000, with SOL suffering the biggest 24-hour fall of about 4%. The minutes might have validated the existing risk-off mood rather than shocking the system; although BTC failed to regain $70,000, it didn’t succumb to steep collapses as seen in the first week of February.

XRP shone this week with an intraday jump of almost 10%, with the local peak about 30% above its February low of $1.12 — supported by selective institutional inflows and a sharper technical reset.

By mid-week, spot BTC ETFs showed outflows of about $105 million; spot ETH ETFs brought in mild inflows of about $25 million, coinciding with ETH accumulation activities by BlackRock and BitMine. BitMine added another 45,759 ETH to the bag in their latest purchase, putting their total holdings at about 4.37 million.

Although prices are hovering above the lines in the sand, confidence has yet to catch up. Here are the week’s top stories.

Market Spotlight

Note: Market prices captured in USD at the time of sending. Explore more on Crypto‌.com/Price. 

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News Snaps

🗳️ Truth Social Files for Two Crypto ETFs
Trump-linked Truth Social filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a BTC and ETH ETF and a Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF that would stake CRO. If approved, the products would be supported by Crypto.com, which is expected to act as custodian, liquidity provider and staking service provider.

📱 X to Roll Out Smart Cashtags
X said it will launch “Smart Cashtags” within weeks, a feature that lets users view real-time crypto and stocks data directly in their timelines. It will support on-chain assets, including smaller-cap tokens, while clarifying that X will not handle trade execution or act as a brokerage.

💎 BlackRock Seeds Staked ETH ETF
BlackRock began seeding its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust, purchasing 4,000 shares as it moves toward launching a U.S. staking ETF under the ticker ETHB. The fund plans to stake 70% to 95% of its ETH holdings.

🏛️ Stripe’s Bridge Wins National Trust Charter Nod
Stablecoin firm Bridge, owned by Stripe, received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust charter. If finalized, Bridge would be licensed to custody digital assets, issue stablecoins, and manage reserves under a federal banking framework.

🏦 Grayscale Files for AAVE ETF
Grayscale Investments filed to convert its AAVE trust into an ETF that would list on NYSE Arca. The proposed fund carries a 2.5% sponsor fee, payable in AAVE, as competition in spot altcoin ETFs heats up.

What’s Ahead

📣 End-February: CLARITY Act Deadline
The White House signaled that limited stablecoin rewards will remain in the next draft of the bill and urged banks to reach a deal before March 1. If lenders sign off, the CLARITY Act could advance in the Senate, though broader partisan hurdles remain unresolved.

Number of the Week

Source: DefiLlama

Chart of the Week

Bitcoin’s MVRV Ratio Near Cycle Lows

Bitcoin’s market value to realized value (MVRV) ratio, which compares its market cap to the price at which the supply last moved, has fallen back toward the 1.2 to 1.3 range, its lowest reading since the late-2023 consolidation phase.

Historically, MVRV levels near 1 coincided with periods when BTC traded close to its aggregate on-chain cost basis, which is indicative of late-stage drawdowns rather than euphoric tops.

The chart shows how the ratio peaked above 2.5 during the 2024 to 2025 rally before compressing steadily alongside price.

In prior cycles, sustained moves below 1 signaled deep capitulation. For now, the ratio is hovering above that threshold, pointing to stress but not yet structural breakdown.

As of February 15, 2026

Sources: CryptoQuant, Crypto.com Research

Crypto Trivia

What is the approximate size of one of the largest BTC transaction fees ever paid in a single transfer?

A) About 0.5 BTC
B) About 5 BTC
C) About 19 BTC 

Find the correct answer at the end of this newsletter.

NFT Spotlight

A new pack of predators is taking center stage in “The Bold Tigers — Tigers on the Hunt,” a genesis drop on February 25 featuring 1,600 hand-drawn NFTs. Each collectible comes with traits that showcase boldness, power, and creativity.

Led by its founder, Shaaker, The Bold Tigers aims to build its Cronos-based ecosystem by connecting art and gaming utilities, delivering long-term value for its holders.

Collectors can earn exclusive in-game enhancements in Loaded Lions: Mane City, and custom NFT designs.

Pounce into action now. Get all the details before the drop.

Byte Sized

On this day, bitcoin hit a $1 trillion market cap — a milestone that changed crypto forever. Want to know more?

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Security Tips

Seven Warning Signs to Spot a Crypto Scam

From pig butchering schemes to deepfake authorization scams, fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to trick victims. Thankfully, the red flags haven’t changed much. Spotting them early helps protect funds.

Scammers often promise guaranteed returns or “risk-free” profits, pressure victims to act quickly, and push conversations off public platforms. Many impersonate trusted brands, influencers, or support agents, using fake testimonials or deepfake technology to appear legitimate. Stay alert to these tactics to avoid being manipulated.

Common Warning Signs:

1. Online relationships that quickly shift to crypto investing or exclusive opportunities.
2. Trading platforms that block or delay withdrawals.
3. Deepfake videos or voice messages that urge targets to invest or authorize transfers.
4. Promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns.
5. Pressure to move conversations off-platform to private messaging apps.
6. Requests for private keys, seed phrases, or authorization codes.
7. Escalating deposit demands to “unlock” profits or recover funds.

Crypto Trivia Answer

C) About 19 BTC ✅

In 2023, a user paid roughly 19 BTC in fees for one transaction due to a purported wallet configuration error, and it’s regarded as one of the largest on-chain “tips” ever recorded.

That's it for this week's SnapShot. Want more? Find out what’s trending in the crypto world.