The cryptocurrency market experienced a notable rally on February 25, 2026, with total market capitalization climbing nearly 3% to $2.27 trillion. This surge followed a period of sustained pressure and coincided with intense speculation surrounding a lawsuit filed against trading giant Jane Street.
Bitcoin (BTC) led the recovery, trading around $66,200 after gaining more than 3% on the day and rebounding from a recent three-week low of $62,500. Ethereum (ETH) jumped close to 5%, hovering near $1,935. Major altcoins also posted significant gains, with Solana (SOL) leading the pack with an 8% move to $82, and XRP pushing higher toward $1.38.
The timing of the rally sparked widespread debate, as it occurred just one day after Jane Street was sued in connection with allegations tied to the 2022 Terra-Luna collapse. The lawsuit claims the firm used insider information during the UST crisis to profit. More critically, the price surge coincided with the apparent absence of a recurring market pattern traders had dubbed the "10 AM dump"—a sharp sell-off in Bitcoin that had been occurring daily around 10 AM market hours for nearly two months.
Online speculation exploded, linking the number 10 to several pivotal events: the Luna collapse on May 10, 2022; the alleged daily sell-off hour of 10 AM; and a massive $19 billion liquidation event in October 2025. The theory circulating among traders suggested that Jane Street had been executing daily algorithmic BTC sales at 10 AM Eastern Time, and that these sales may have paused following the legal action, contributing to the market's upward move. Jane Street has dismissed these claims as baseless.
Despite the short-term optimism, broader market conditions remain fragile. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits at a level of 11, signaling extreme fear. Bitcoin remains below major resistance levels, and the sustainability of the recovery is uncertain, with analysts noting markets move for many reasons including short covering and oversold technical conditions.
