The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a significant correction, with major assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) facing downward pressure. As of February 19, 2026, Bitcoin has dipped to approximately $67,000, marking a daily decline of over 1.5%. This follows a rejection from the $71,000-$72,000 resistance level over the past weekend. Ethereum has similarly lost its footing, falling back below the crucial $2,000 support level to around $1,983.
The bearish sentiment has extended to other large-cap altcoins. XRP is among the poorest performers, dropping nearly 5% to trade just above $1.40. Solana (SOL) has also seen a sharp decline of around 2.8% to $82.40. Other notable losses include Binance Coin (BNB), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE), all down by up to 4%.
In a stark contrast, a select group of altcoins has surged dramatically against the market tide. Greyhunt (HUNT) has led the charge with an explosive 46.8% gain, reaching a price of $2.81 and attracting $50.8 million in trading volume. Espresso (ESP) followed with a remarkable 28.9% rise to $0.07751, backed by a substantial $102.6 million in volume. Other gainers include Orbs (ORBS), up 22.3%, and Prom (PROM), up 20.7%.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has shed around $50 billion in a day, falling to approximately $2.37 trillion. Bitcoin's market dominance also struggles, remaining below 56.5%. This market dynamic highlights a period of rotation and volatility, where capital appears to be flowing out of major assets and into select, lower-cap altcoins, creating divergent performance within the sector.