Bitcoin has fallen 1.25% to $67,788 as heavy year-to-date ETF outflows of $2.52 billion and broader macro uncertainty cool the recent rally toward $70,000.
Altcoins crash with XRP down 3.55%. Meanwhile, BNB and Tether were the only major tokens showing positive movement.
Regulatory developments such as the GENIUS Act stablecoin proposal, US-Iran tensions, and the upcoming Polkadot halving will drive short-term volatility.
Crypto prices today showed mixed emotions. Most of the bullish momentum we saw yesterday has evaporated. Just 24 hours ago, Bitcoin was teasing a run at $70,000, and the top altcoins were booking 8% gains. Today, bears seem to have gained an edge, and we are back to a sell-on-news environment.
Bitcoin is back in the $67,000-$68,000 range. Altcoins have followed BTC’s lead, going on a downtrend. BNB is the only top coin that has shown strength among crypto prices today. Institutional exit seems to be behind the wary mood. The global crypto market cap is down 1.22% to $2.34 trillion.
Here is the latest crypto news and price movements based on CoinMarketCap data.
Bitcoin (BTC) price is down 1.25% in the last 24 hours at $67,788. Its market cap is at roughly $1.35 trillion, with over $41 billion in trading volume. Earlier this week, Bitcoin was dealing with heavy selling pressure from US BTC-spot ETF outflows, which have now hit a massive $2.52 billion in net outflows year-to-date.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk commented, “BTC saw strong ETF inflows this week, which helped lift prices earlier, but macro risk and profit-taking have capped gains. Sentiment remains cautious with the Fear & Greed Index in extreme-fear territory. Equities' weakness, especially in tech, has kept crypto correlated with broader risk assets.”
Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO, Pi42, took an optimistic stance. The CEO explained, “Bitcoin’s behaviour over the past 48 hours suggests underlying strength. After absorbing selling pressure earlier in the week, the market has stabilised above $66,500 with liquidity conditions holding firm, which indicates that the recent drawdown did not trigger systemic stress.”
Shekhar further added that the resilience of market infrastructure during volatility is a constructive signal for longer-term participants. What is particularly notable is that despite derivatives' expiry creating short-term turbulence, spot demand has prevented deeper retracement. This suggests that capital is being redeployed. The $74,500 level now represents more than just technical resistance. It is a sentiment pivot. A decisive move above that zone could validate the recent rebound as the early stage of a broader bullish continuation.
Here is how the world’s top eleven coins performed in the market today:
| Name | 24% Change | Price | Trading Volume (24h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | -1.25% | $67,788.28 | $41,761,610,503 |
| Ethereum | -1.40% | $2,047.24 | $22,608,814,922 |
| Tether | 0.02% | $1.00 | $82,556,635,942 |
| BNB | 0.14% | $632.38 | $2,758,369,586 |
| XRP | -3.55% | $1.41 | $3,147,294,255 |
| USDC | 0.00% | $1.00 | $11,621,774,230 |
| Solana | -1.37% | $87.61 | $3,810,384,504 |
| TRON | -0.69% | $0.2850 | $448,681,227 |
| Dogecoin | -2.88% | $0.09845 | $1,067,315,550 |
| Cardano | -1.89% | $0.2927 | $610,280,606 |
| Bitcoin Cash | -3.32% | $485.89 | $358,421,411 |
Biggest Losers: XRP, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash
Biggest Gainers: BNB, Tether (USDT)
XRP is among the hardest-hit tokens, down by 3.55% to $1.41. Earlier on February 26, it was trading as high as $1.4454 before dropping to a session low of $1.3862 after US jobs data came in stronger than expected. The token closed that session at $1.4027, according to a FXempire report. Despite the dip, XRP-spot ETFs have actually pulled in $70.26 million in net inflows year-to-date, a stark contrast to Bitcoin ETFs.
CoinSwitch analysts noted, “Ethereum sits near $2,018, reflecting cautious sentiment across the market as total crypto cap eases. The market is bracing for a large $8.9 billion BTC/ETH options expiry that could add short-term volatility and influence price swings.”
Here are the top headlines impacting crypto prices today.
The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released a 376-page stablecoin proposal. It could limit rewards programs offered by crypto platforms like Coinbase. This is key because stablecoin yield is a big business. It is also a major point of disagreement in the Senate's ongoing Digital Asset Market Clarity Act negotiations. If rewards get restricted, it could hurt exchange revenue and weigh on crypto sentiment.
Nischal Shetty, Founder, WazirX explained, “The US regulator’s GENIUS Act proposal could impact how platforms offer rewards on stablecoins. In the short term, adjustments may be required, but in the long term, regulatory clarity is always good for sustainable growth.”
Morgan Stanley, which manages $8 trillion in assets, announced plans to build a native Bitcoin custody and trading platform. The rollout is expected over the next year. This could bring a huge wave of institutional money into crypto. It would make it easier for wealthy clients to hold digital assets directly through the bank, a long-term positive for crypto prices.
The US and Iran are in their third round of nuclear talks, with Trump having set a deadline of March 1-6 for a deal or he threatened military action. Prediction market Polymarket puts the odds of a deal at just 30%. A military conflict would likely spark a sharp sell-off in crypto, as geopolitical risk drives investors away from riskier assets. The market is watching closely.
Polkadot's upcoming March 14 halving, its first ever, will cut annual token issuance from 120 million to 55 million DOT as reported by Cryptonews.net. The scarcity narrative has pushed DOT up over 25% this week. Pending SEC decisions on DOT-spot ETFs from 21Shares and Grayscale could add more fuel if approved.
Also Read: Cardano News Today: ADA Price Faces $0.30 Resistance as Whales Accumulate 819M Tokens
Crypto prices today showed signs of market-wide consolidation. Yesterday's Bitcoin run toward $70,000 feels like a distant memory now that the reality of ETF outflows and high interest rates has set back in. We’re in a period where headlines from the Middle East are going to dictate the daily swings more than any chart pattern.
Although there is some positive news. The Founder of WazirX stated, “Ethereum researchers released a draft ‘Strawmap’ focused on scalability, privacy, and stronger Layer 2 integration. On the Bitcoin side, miners like MARA are expanding into AI data centres, strengthening diversification and reducing dependency on block rewards alone.”
These new developments may stabilise the market in the long run. However, the focus for the next two weeks will be the Polkadot halving and whether Bitcoin can find a floor before the ETF bleeding gets worse.
Also Read: Crypto Market Update: Stripe Predicts AI Agents Will Drive More Payments on Stablecoin Rails
1. Why is the crypto market down today?
The crypto market is down today mainly due to profit-taking after a recent rally and continued Bitcoin ETF outflows. Year-to-date net outflows have reached $2.52 billion, which has weighed on sentiment. Stronger US jobs data and high interest rates have also reduced risk appetite. In addition, geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran are adding uncertainty, pushing investors to move cautiously.
2. What is the latest crypto news?
The biggest news is the 376-page stablecoin proposal under the GENIUS Act, which could limit rewards programs offered by exchanges like Coinbase. This may affect stablecoin yields and exchange revenues. Morgan Stanley also announced plans to build a native Bitcoin custody platform, which could attract institutional investors. Meanwhile, Polkadot’s first halving on March 14 is creating buzz in the altcoin space.
3. What is the Bitcoin price today?
Bitcoin is trading at $67,788, down 1.25% in the last 24 hours. Its market cap stands at nearly $1.35 trillion, with daily trading volume of more than $41 billion. Although Bitcoin briefly rose to near $70,000 earlier this week, ETF outflows and macro pressure have slowed momentum. Analysts are watching the $74,500 level as a key resistance point.
4. When is Polkadot halving?
Polkadot’s first-ever halving is scheduled for March 14. The event will reduce annual token issuance from 120 million DOT to 55 million DOT. This supply cut has already helped push DOT up more than 25% this week. Investors are also watching pending SEC decisions on DOT-spot ETFs, which could add further momentum if approved.
5. What is the new GENIUS Act proposal?
The GENIUS Act proposal is a new regulatory framework for stablecoins released by the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. It runs 376 pages and may limit reward programs tied to stablecoins on crypto platforms. Since stablecoin yield is a major revenue source for exchanges, restrictions could impact business models. Supporters say it brings clarity, while critics worry about growth constraints.
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