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Shiba Inu Open Interest Spikes 8% to $75 Million but Selling Pressure Persists

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Derivatives interest in Shiba Inu has gained weight over the past 24 hours, but spot traders remain skeptical, adding renewed pressure on prices.

Data confirms a rise in open interest (OI), suggesting that more speculative traders are betting on Shiba Inu to make a move from here. Despite these, token holders remain uncertain about the asset’s next direction, resulting in persistent inflows into exchanges.

Key Points

  • Derivatives interest in Shiba Inu has gained weight over the past 24 hours, but spot traders remain skeptical, adding renewed pressure on prices.
  • Shiba Inu is up 1.3% in the past 24 hours, following the template set by Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies.
  • In the past 24 hours, data shows an 8% rise in Open Interest to $75.6 million in tandem with the slight price increase.
  • Typically, such an uptick precedes a notable price shift, as it reflects growing market participation and higher liquidity.
  • Amid the derivative enthusiasm, data shows that spot traders are still skeptical, as $7.78 million in ADA flowed into exchanges in the past 24 hours, while $7.35 million flowed out.
  • While these flows are increasing, the positive bias in trading volume across spot and futures markets might provide the fuel to sustain the uptrend seen over the past 24 hours.

Shiba Inu OI Shows Renewed Interest

Shiba Inu is up 1.3% in the past 24 hours, following the template set by Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies. While this is positive, SHIB remains well within bearish territory, reflected in its double-digit correction in the past 30 days.

Amid the slight recovery, CoinGlass data shows growing Shiba Inu open interest. For the uninitiated, this metric tracks the value of all the open futures positions on an underlying asset. An increase indicates more derivative bets, while a decline implies less interest.

In the past 24 hours, CoinGlass data shows an 8% rise in OI to $75.6 million in tandem with the slight price increase. Typically, such an uptick precedes a notable price shift, as it reflects growing market participation and higher liquidity.

A growth in trading volume and futures flows further confirms this. CoinGlass data shows an over 16% increase in volume over the past 24 hours to $109.23 million. Meanwhile, CoinMarketCap displays a higher 20% volume spike to $129.8 billion.

Furthermore, Shiba Inu futures flows indicate an acceleration in derivative contract value, as inflows of $9.5 million in the past 24 hours beat outflows of $8.43 million. An aggregation of these explains the open interest spike.

Spot Traders Still Skeptical

Despite the derivative enthusiasm, CoinGlass data shows that spot traders are still skeptical. Over the past 24 hours, more SHIB tokens have flowed into exchanges, adding selling pressure. While this does not indicate sales, it increases the chances of immediate liquidation if market conditions worsen.

Specifically, $7.78 million flowed into exchanges in the past 24 hours, while $7.35 million in SHIB flowed out. This trend continues in the 3- and 5-day timeframes, confirming the sell-off disposition of spot holders.

While these flows are increasing, the positive bias in trading volume across spot and futures markets might provide the fuel to sustain the uptrend seen over the past 24 hours. The spike in volume is accompanied by slightly higher taker buy volume, signaling that most activity is skewed towards taking the SHIB price northward.

In the meantime, SHIB trades near the $0.000006 support. A recent analysis suggests reclaiming $0.0000067 is crucial for a rebound to $0.0000099 and $0.0000148.

Shiba Inu Falls to 26th Place: How High SHIB Price Must Rise to Reclaim the Top 10

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Shiba Inu would need to surge nearly threefold to return to the top 10 ranking in the global crypto market.

Prolonged bearish pressure across the broader crypto market has weighed heavily on Shiba Inu, pushing its price lower and causing a sharp slide in global rankings. As a result, the token now sits in 26th place on CoinMarketCap. 

Moreover, intensifying competition and weak buying momentum have further limited upside, leaving SHIB with a steep climb to re-enter the top ten ranking. 

Key Points 

  • Shiba Inu has fallen to 26th place in the global crypto rankings amid prolonged bearish market conditions. 
  • Reclaiming the 10th position would require Shiba Inu to add about $7.8 billion to its market cap. 
  • Such a move could potentially elevate SHIB’s price to the $0.000019 region. 
  • Even at that level, SHIB would still trade below its December 2024 peak of $0.000033. 

Required Growth to Enter Top 10 

Notably, Shiba Inu once ranked among the top 10 cryptocurrencies during the 2021 bull cycle. However, shifting market dynamics and sustained selling pressure have since dragged it down.

Currently, SHIB carries a market cap of $3.71 billion and trades at $0.000006303, far below the level required to compete with higher-ranked assets. 

Shiba Inu Market Cap
Shiba Inu Market Cap

In contrast, the 10th-largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), commands a market cap of $11.2 billion. For SHIB to reclaim a top-10 spot, its valuation would need to rise by approximately $7.8 billion, lifting its market cap to around $11.5 billion. 

From its current level, this represents a roughly 210% increase, potentially restoring SHIB as the world’s tenth-largest cryptocurrency. However, this projection assumes that the broader crypto market, including Bitcoin Cash, does not experience proportional growth.

Price Outlook if SHIB Re-Enters the Top 10

Meanwhile, Shiba Inu continues to trade under heavy bearish pressure. At press time, it changed hands at $0.000006303, down more than 80% from its December 2024 peak of $0.000033.

Nevertheless, if SHIB achieves a market cap of $11.5 billion, its price will climb accordingly. Based on its circulating supply of 589.24 trillion tokens, this valuation implies a projected price of $0.00001954 per token. However, this level would remain below the highs recorded in December 2024.

For context, SHIB last traded at $0.000019 in January 2025, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Since then, persistent bearish conditions and fading momentum have prevented the token from reclaiming that level.

Can SHIB Reclaim $0.000019 and Re-Enter the Top 10?

Although reaching a $11.5 billion market cap remains achievable given SHIB’s historical performance, several challenges stand in the way. 

Beyond broader market weakness, Shiba Inu also faces internal hurdles. These include waning investor interest driven by unfinished ecosystem projects, shifting team focus toward other initiatives, and ongoing concerns over transparency due to persistent anonymity and pseudonymous leadership.

Addressing these issues could restore investor confidence and potentially fuel renewed demand. If the team improves transparency, accelerates ecosystem development, and benefits from a broader market recovery, SHIB could strengthen its case for a return to the top 10. 

Bitcoin Forecast for Feb 20: Can BTC Break Key Fib Resistance for a Move to $68.9K?

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Bitcoin rebounded within its daily range and is testing Fibonacci resistance, with bulls needing stronger momentum to sustain the upswing.

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently reflecting steady short-term recovery momentum, trading at $67,778.9, up 1.11% over the past 24 hours. Based on the 1-day chart, BTC’s intraday price action has fluctuated between approximately $65,733 and $67,924, which signals moderate volatility.

Price initially dipped into the mid-$65K region before staging a consistent rebound, breaking back above the $67K level and pushing toward the upper boundary of the session range, where it is now consolidating.

Short-term performance shows gains across the 4-hour (+0.72%), 24-hour (+1.11%), and 7-day (+2.36%) timeframes, suggesting improving near-term sentiment. However, broader trends remain pressured, with declines of 23.26% over 30 days and 41.26% over 180 days, indicating the recent bounce is occurring within a larger corrective structure.

Notably, traders are now positioning for a continuation higher. With BTC now near the upper end of its daily range, the next move will likely depend on whether buyers can push decisively above the session highs.

Bitcoin Price Prediction

On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin has broken through the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level at $67,661, which was acting as immediate resistance. Now, the focus shifts to the next resistance at the 0.5 Fibonacci level, priced at $68,287. The 0.5 level acts as a key pivot area, not as strong as the 0.618, but important in determining whether a move is corrective or the start of a broader reversal.

Bitcoin Price Analysis
Bitcoin Price Analysis

For BTC to break further resistance at the 0.5 level, it would need a decisive 4H close above it, followed by continuation toward the 0.618 level near $68,914. However, the ADX reading around 13 suggests trend strength is currently weak, meaning the move lacks strong directional conviction. This increases the likelihood of consolidation or rejection unless volume expands and momentum strengthens.

If BTC fails to close above the 0.5 level, it could rotate back toward the 0.382 retracement near $67,661 or even retest the 0.236 level around $66,886.

$68,900 up Next for Bitcoin?

Elsewhere, crypto analyst Ali Martinez notes that Bitcoin has successfully cleared the $67,400 level, signaling a bullish development in the short term. According to his view, with that resistance now broken, the next key upside target for BTC sits at $68,900.

Bitcoin Prediction
Bitcoin Prediction

Further resistance and possible upside targets exist at $69,800, followed by the psychological $70,800 level. A sustained move above that zone could open the door toward the broader resistance area near $71,600, which marks the upper boundary of the recent trading structure.

Grayscale Increases Bet on Cardano Amid Network’s Bitcoin DeFi Strategy, Expert Reacts

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Analyst Zach Humphries recently highlighted Grayscale’s latest move on Cardano, noting that the asset manager increased its ADA allocation in its Smart Contract Fund. 

Humphries suggested that many investors may be underestimating ADA’s long-term growth potential as they exit the market amid recent price volatility. However, he argued that current conditions instead present an opportunity to accumulate, citing significant developments underway within the Cardano ecosystem. 

Key Points 

  • Grayscale Investments increased Cardano’s allocation in its Smart Contract Fund from 19.50% to 20.07%.
  • Crypto commentator Zach Humphries linked the increase to Cardano’s accelerating expansion into Bitcoin-based DeFi.
  • He argues that Cardano’s Bitcoin DeFi strategy could differentiate it in a smart contract market dominated by Ethereum and Solana.
  • Humphries expects Bitcoin-driven liquidity inflows to strengthen ADA’s appeal among institutions seeking diversified blockchain exposure.

Grayscale Increases ADA’s Allocation In Its Smart Contract Fund 

Notably, Humphries pointed to Grayscale’s latest portfolio adjustment, which raised Cardano’s allocation in its Smart Contract Fund from 19.50% to 19.55%. 

While the increase appears modest, Cardano proponents view it as a meaningful signal of institutional confidence. Notably, ADA’s weighting has since climbed further to 20.07% at press time, reinforcing Humphries’ suggestion that Grayscale is steadily increasing its exposure to Cardano. 

For context, the fund holds a diversified mix of major smart contract projects, including Solana (28.58%), Ethereum (28.41%), Cardano (20.07%), Hedera (8.40%), Avalanche (7.67%), and Sui (6.87%). 

Grayscale Smart Contract Fund
Grayscale Smart Contract Fund

 

Cardano’s Bitcoin DeFi Push Could Strengthen Its Competitive Edge 

Meanwhile, Humphries noted that the allocation increase coincides with Cardano’s accelerating push into Bitcoin-based decentralized finance. Notably, the network aims to unlock Bitcoin liquidity using non-custodial collateral models and stablecoin-driven credit systems to enable Bitcoin holders to access DeFi services within the Cardano ecosystem without relinquishing custody of their assets.

According to Humphries, this strategy could give Cardano a distinct advantage in an increasingly crowded smart contract market dominated by Ethereum and Solana. He argued that Bitcoin DeFi could become Cardano’s defining narrative, as even limited adoption could channel substantial liquidity into its ecosystem.

In turn, this influx could enhance ADA’s appeal to institutional investors seeking exposure beyond traditional smart contract platforms. 

Institutional and Retail Interest Could Accelerate

Furthermore, Humphries noted that while investors often concentrate on Solana and Ethereum, many currently overlook Cardano. However, he believes that positioning Cardano as the primary smart contract layer for Bitcoin DeFi could significantly boost ADA’s adoption as it taps into Bitcoin’s massive global user base. 

If successful, he believes this approach could attract substantial capital inflows and expand Cardano’s relevance.

Notably, Cardano has continued to advance its ambition to become the top smart contract platform for Bitcoin DeFi. Last year, its primary development arm, Input Output Global, debuted a live Bitcoin DeFi demonstration at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, where developers successfully executed an on-chain swap of Bitcoin for Cardano-based Minswap tokens. 

Building on that milestone, IOG later launched Cardinal, Cardano’s first Bitcoin DeFi protocol. The product enables users to bridge and stake BTC directly within the network’s extended UTXO model, further strengthening Cardano’s role in cross-chain decentralized finance. 

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan Forecasts 28% Annual Bitcoin Growth Over Next Decade

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Bitcoin could deliver an average annual return of 28% over the next decade, dramatically outpacing stocks and bonds, according to Bitwise’s CIO, Matt Hougan.

In a recent post on X, Bitwise highlighted Hougan’s projection of a 28% compound annual growth rate for Bitcoin over 10 years. That figure stands in sharp contrast to typical Wall Street expectations of roughly 5% annual equity returns and about 4% for bonds.

Against this backdrop, Hougan’s forecast frames Bitcoin as a potential long-term portfolio outlier — one that could meaningfully influence asset allocation strategies. However, his bullish outlook comes amid fragile market sentiment.

Key Points

  • Bitwise CIO forecasts Bitcoin could see a 28% CAGR over the next 10 years, far exceeding typical equity and bond returns.
  • Hougan describes the current crypto environment as a classic bear market, similar to the 2018 and 2022 crypto winters.
  • Institutional investors continue to accumulate Bitcoin and Ethereum, indicating confidence despite market downturns.
  • Structural growth in DeFi, stablecoins, and tokenization points to deeper integration between crypto and traditional finance.
  • Hougan expects a gradual market recovery starting in 2026, with fundamentals strengthening before valuations follow.

Market Conditions Mirror Past Crypto Winters

Despite his constructive long-term thesis, Hougan recently characterized the current crypto environment as a classic bear phase. Specifically, he likened the current environment to the crypto winters of 2018 and 2022, when prices fell sharply across the sector.

Speaking to The Block, Hougan said crypto still appears to follow a four-year cycle. Although past catalysts, including Bitcoin halving events and major industry failures, may now carry less weight, the broader pattern seems intact.

He argued that cycles persist because investors expect them. As traders position themselves around these timelines, their behavior reinforces the cycle itself.

This cyclical pressure is visible across the market. Institutional investors continued to accumulate Bitcoin and Ethereum through late 2025. Meanwhile, many retail participants experienced steep losses. Numerous altcoins have declined 70% or more from previous highs.

At the same time, extreme fear readings in market sentiment indicators support Hougan’s argument that the downturn began earlier than many expected. Even so, he maintains that weakening prices do not necessarily signal deteriorating fundamentals.

Institutional Activity and Structural Growth

Hougan points to expanding institutional engagement as a primary indicator of structural progress. For instance, he highlights increased activity in decentralized finance and tokenization initiatives, as well as major digital asset efforts from BlackRock and growing tokenization strategies at Apollo Global Management.

Additionally, he cited continued growth in stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Together, these developments suggest deeper integration between traditional finance and crypto infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Hougan expects exchange-traded funds to expand gradually beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, he believes institutional capital will likely remain concentrated in leading assets or broad index-style products.

He also addressed concerns surrounding corporate Bitcoin holders such as MicroStrategy. According to Hougan, widespread forced selling would require a prolonged 80% price decline. Without such a scenario, he suggested companies may continue amassing assets, though perhaps at a slower pace.

Taken together, these dynamics form what he sees as the structural groundwork for the next phase of the market cycle.

What Could Happen Next?

Turning to the near-term outlook, Hougan describes 2026 as a potential bottoming year, with recovery more likely to resemble a gradual U-shape than a sharp rebound.

Even if prices remain subdued, he expects steady progress in stablecoin adoption, decentralized finance innovation, and regulatory development. Those trends, he believes, will continue moving forward regardless of short-term volatility.

Under his base scenario, 2027 could mark a period when market prices begin to align more closely with strengthening fundamentals. Still, Hougan cautions that comprehensive global regulatory clarity may take years to materialize.

Ultimately, he frames crypto’s trajectory as a 10- to 15-year structural transformation. From his perspective, the industry remains in its early stages. Over time, he expects fundamentals to advance first, with valuations following in a later expansion phase.

As of press time, Bitcoin is trading at $68,122, up 1.5% over the past 24 hours.

Solana Price Analysis for Feb 20: Has SOL Found a Base Towards $120 Target?

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Solana extends a rebound after an intraday dip, with traders watching whether the recovery can hold and develop into a sustained upside move.

The Solana (SOL) market is now pressing back toward its intraday highs, trading at $83.69, after shaking out weak hands earlier in the session, signaling that buyers may be quietly regaining control.

SOL is currently up 1.5% over the past 24 hours, with the daily range stretching from $79.82 to $83.64, a roughly $3.82 swing that reflects healthy intraday volatility. Price initially dipped toward the lower boundary of the range before staging a steady recovery, climbing to the upper end as momentum improved through the session.

Trading activity remains robust, with approximately $3.25 billion in 24-hour volume and a market cap near $47.57 billion. Short-term metrics show constructive movement, including gains over the past hour, day, and week, though broader timeframes remain under pressure with notable declines over the past month and year. The key question now is whether SOL can hold near the top of its daily range and convert this rebound into sustained upside continuation.

Solana Price Analysis

Despite the recovery in the short term, Solana remains in a broader downtrend, with price trading well below both the 50-day EMA (around $106.66) and the 100-day EMA (around $124.18). These moving averages have continued to slope downward, reinforcing sustained bearish structure and acting as strong dynamic resistance zones on any recovery attempt. 

SOLUSD Price Analysis
SOLUSD Price Analysis

Immediate horizontal resistance now sits near the recent breakdown area around $90–$100, while a larger recovery would need to reclaim the 50-day EMA to signal a more meaningful trend shift. Until SOL can break back above these levels, rallies may continue to face selling pressure.

On the downside, a breakdown below $78 could open the door toward deeper psychological support near $75, while holding above it may allow for continued consolidation. The current structure suggests a base-building phase, but confirmation would require a push above near-term resistance.

Momentum indicators show lingering bearish pressure, though downside strength may be cooling. The True Strength Index remains below the zero line, with the main line near -33 and the signal line around -35, indicating that bearish momentum still dominates.

However, the lines are beginning to flatten and slightly converge, hinting that selling pressure is easing. A further surge of the TSI above its signal line, followed by a move back toward the zero axis, would be an early indication that momentum is shifting in favor of buyers.

Could Solana Target $120?

On the commentary side, analyst curb.sol shares a short-term outlook for Solana, suggesting the asset is currently establishing a trading range between roughly $75 and $90. 

Solana Prediction
Solana Prediction

According to his view, this zone represents a consolidation phase where price builds structure before the next directional move. He notes that a decisive breakout above the $90 level would be significant, as it could trigger upside momentum and open the path toward a projected target near $120.

Cardano at the Same Crossroads as in 2023 Before it Rallied 500%

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Amid the recent downturn, Cardano now sits at a critical juncture similar to its 2023 bottom, with two clear price paths before it.

Each path leads to two different price directions, and its near-term reaction would determine which one it would take. One is headed toward steeper dips, and the other is a recovery path to higher prices.

Key Points

  • Amid the recent downturn, Cardano now sits at a critical juncture similar to its 2023 bottom, with two clear price paths set before it.
  • For context, the 11th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap pumped by over 500% from its June 2023 lows of $0.220 to its cycle top of $1.32 in December 2024.
  • After relinquishing all those gains, Cardano now sits at a level that aligns with the $0.27-$0.35 price range, with crucial support at $0.25. How ADA reacts will determine its next course of action.
  • If it holds this zone between $0.27 and $0.35 through mid-2026, it stands a chance of rebounding to between $0.40 and $0.50.
  • If it doesn’t hold this price range, Cardano could drop further to below $0.20 by late 2026, representing an over 27% correction.
  • On-chain data from Coinglass shows that Cardano has seen good spot buying activity in the past few days.

Cardano at a Crossroads It Hasn’t Seen for Years

For context, the 11th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap pumped by over 500% from its June 2023 lows of $0.220 to its cycle top of $1.32 in December 2024. The explosive move saw it rally to a distribution zone marked red in an accompanying chart before dumping as hard as it pumped.

Cardano Pump from Support to Distribution Zone
Cardano Pump from Support to Distribution Zone

Currently, ADA has given up all its gains from this run, dropping to $0.2206 on February 6 before rebounding slightly to $0.274. It now sits around the same level as 2023, an area that is crucial for its next price direction.

Notably, this level aligns with the $0.27-$0.35 price range, with crucial support at $0.25. How Cardano handles this will determine whether it repeats its 2023 price action or drops to lows not seen in over five years.

What Could Happen from Here

From a bullish perspective, Cardano could rebound from here if it does what it did in the previous cycle lows. Specifically, if it holds this zone between $0.27 and $0.35 through mid-2026, it stands a chance of rebounding to higher prices. 

While nothing explosive is on the horizon at the moment, given the current price momentum, a sustainable trend above this support level could pave the way for reclaiming the $0.40-$0.50 resistance range. This would represent a 46% to 82% growth from the current market price of $0.274.

However, if it doesn’t hold this price range, it could signal a price capitulation. Cardano could drop further to below $0.20 by late 2026, representing an over 27% correction. ADA last saw such a low in January 2021, over four years ago.

What On-Chain Data Suggests for Cardano

On-chain data from Coinglass shows that Cardano has seen good spot buying activity in the past few days. The spot flows show higher outflows than inflows on higher timeframes, signaling accumulation over further distribution.

In the past 24 hours, exchanges have seen inflows of $16.67 million in ADA and outflows of $17.58 million, as users withdraw their tokens, likely to hold. This trend becomes more pronounced in the 7- and 10-day timeframes, with wallets withdrawing $152.66 million and $226.61 million, compared with inflows of $147 million and $220 million, respectively.

Cardano Spot Flows/CoinGlass
Cardano Spot Flows/Coinglass

If this trend continues, ADA could gain the needed buying pressure to push higher from current support levels.

Shiba Inu Needs This Level to Confirm Bullish Inverse Head and Shoulders Pattern

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A classic inverse head-and-shoulders pattern is forming on the Shiba Inu chart, and a breakout could signal bullish potential for the token.

This formation could lift optimism in a market mired in volatility and price uncertainties. Shiba Inu (SHIB) has continued to show weakness, dropping over 20% in the past 30 days, a trend that has spread across the broader crypto market. Yet recent price action could signal an impending shift in trend.

Key Points

  • A classic inverse head-and-shoulders pattern is forming on the Shiba Inu chart, and a breakout could signal bullish potential for the token.
  • The pattern is in its late formation phase, having printed the head and the left and right shoulders.
  • The left shoulder formed around $0.00000616, the head around its multi-year low of roughly $0.00000510 on February 6, and the right shoulder near $0.00000614.
  • For the structure to spur the expected price bounce, it needs to break above its neckline resistance around $0.0000070-$0.0000072.
  • Breaking and closing above $0.0000072 with volume will confirm a pattern, paving the way for a push to $0.0000078, then $0.0000085, and finally $0.0000090.
  • There is a support level at $0.0000060 if bears continue to push prices lower, and a major pattern breakdown will occur when SHIB falls below $0.0000058.

Shiba Inu Prints Clean Inverse Head and Shoulders Pattern

Technical analyst Crypto Sat has lifted the hopes of SHIB holders after identifying a bullish formation on the 4-hour chart. Recently on X, he highlighted a clean inverse head-and-shoulders (H&S) pattern.

Notably, the pattern is in its late formation phase, having printed the head and the left and right shoulders. The analysis shows the left shoulder formed around $0.00000616, the head around its multi-year low of roughly $0.00000510 on February 6, and the right shoulder near $0.00000614.

Shiba Inu H&S Pattern/Crypto Sat
Shiba Inu H&S Pattern/Crypto Sat

Typically, an H&S pattern spells bearish momentum. But since it is inverted, it suggests that selling pressure might be nearing exhaustion. For it to spur the expected price bounce, however, it needs to break above its neckline resistance. The analyst believes this level to be around $0.0000070-$0.0000072.

Key Price Levels to Watch

Breaking and closing above $0.0000072, which is 15% away from the current price, with volume, will confirm the pattern. From there, Shiba Inu will aim for a quick push to $0.0000078 before a measured move to $0.0000085, then to $0.0000090.

However, the market remains weak, and the possibility of further pullbacks is not off the table. Per the analysis, there is a support level at $0.0000060 if bears continue to push prices lower. Meanwhile, a major pattern breakdown will occur when SHIB falls below $0.0000058.

Essentially, Crypto Sat is suggesting that if the $0.0000060 and $0.0000058 levels fail, the H&S pattern will be invalidated. The recent price high would become a lower high, with the meme coin continuing bearish momentum to retest the head lows around $0.0000051.

Bullish Formations for Shiba Inu

Interestingly, Crypto Sat is not the only commentator to have identified a pattern suggesting a trend shift for Shiba Inu. In a recent price analysis, SwallowAcademy highlighted a break in bearish market structure still on the 4-hour chart.

The token broke past its previous lower high when it rallied to $0.00000725 on February 14. Now SHIB is retesting the breakout level, and its success would take it to $0.00000085, one of Crypto Sat’s targets.

Despite these bullish takes, bears are in charge of the market. As a result, renewed selling pressure could push Shiba Inu to even lower prices.

Cardano Prediction for Feb 20: ADA Must Close Above This Bollinger Band Resistance

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Cardano has traded in a tight range as traders watch whether it could close above the middle Bollinger Band and signal a momentum shift.

Cardano (ADA) is currently trading at $0.2743, down approximately 0.4% over the past 24 hours, reflecting mild short-term weakness. Based on the 1-day chart, ADA’s intraday price action has fluctuated between roughly $0.2682 and $0.277, marking a relatively tight daily range.

Price initially traded near the upper boundary of this range before sliding toward the mid levels, then attempting a modest rebound. Despite the bounce, ADA remains below its earlier intraday highs, suggesting buyers have not fully regained control.

ADA is down 0.36% in 24 hours, but up 3.85% over 7 days. However, the bigger picture remains pressured, with declines of 21.69% over 30 days, 32.94% over 90 days, and nearly 70% over 180 days. With Cardano still pinned inside a tight range, the next decisive move will likely come from a clean breakout or breakdown, making the next session a key test of conviction.

Cardano Price Analysis

On the daily chart, Cardano is trading just below the middle Bollinger Band (around $0.2756), which now acts as immediate dynamic resistance. The upper Bollinger Band near $0.3012 represents the next major resistance zone. For bulls to regain short-term control, ADA would need a decisive close above the middle band, followed by a push toward the upper band. 

Cardano Price Analysis
Cardano Price Analysis

Repeated rejections near the mid-band suggest sellers are still active on relief rallies, keeping upside attempts contained. On the downside, the lower Bollinger Band sits near $0.2499 and serves as key dynamic support. A breakdown below this lower band would signal renewed bearish momentum and could expose deeper downside toward the $0.2200 zone. 

Looking at momentum, the Awesome Oscillator remains below the zero line at approximately -0.0285, indicating that bearish momentum is still technically dominant. However, the histogram bars are gradually turning greener and shrinking in size, suggesting that downside pressure is weakening. A move back above the zero line would be an early signal of a potential momentum shift in favor of bulls, while continued rejection below zero would confirm that the broader downtrend structure remains intact.

Cardano Futures Flows

Meanwhile, Cardano’s futures flow data shows a short-term burst of buying interest, but the broader picture still leans cautious. Over the past hour, inflows of $8.32M exceeded outflows of $6.30M, producing a $2.02M net inflow, suggesting a brief pickup in leveraged positioning.

Cardano Futures Flows
Cardano Futures Flows

However, that strength doesn’t carry through the larger windows: the 24-hour period shows a $11.02M net outflow (outflows $140.42M vs inflows $129.40M), while the 3-day and 5-day readings remain negative at -$10.13M and -$22.23M respectively, signaling that, despite intermittent rebounds, traders have generally been reducing exposure rather than steadily adding to it.

New SEC Guidance Allows Security Tokens to Trade Directly With Bitcoin

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The U.S. SEC Division of Trading and Markets has issued updated guidance on crypto market activity, providing greater clarity for exchanges, broker-dealers, and alternative trading systems (ATSs).

While the agency did not introduce new rules, it signaled it would not object to certain crypto trading structures and capital treatments, provided firms continue to comply with existing federal securities laws. 

The guidance addresses crypto pairs trading, stablecoin capital calculations, disclosure standards, clearing obligations, and Regulation M considerations for crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs).

Key Points

  • SEC allows direct trading between security tokens and assets like Bitcoin without fiat conversion.

  • Broker-dealers can treat proprietary stablecoins as readily marketable with a 2% haircut.

  • ATS broker-dealers may combine brokerage, custody, and clearing if laws are met.

  • SEC permits crypto ETP trades under its Regulation M framework if rules are followed.

Exchanges and ATSs May Facilitate Crypto Pairs Trading

A central feature of the update is clarification around crypto pairs trading. The Division stated that federal securities laws do not prohibit national securities exchanges or ATSs from facilitating direct trades between a crypto asset security and a non-security crypto asset, such as Bitcoin.

In practical terms, this means a security token may trade directly against a non-security crypto asset without first being converted into fiat currency. However, the Division emphasized that existing regulatory obligations remain unchanged. ATSs must continue to comply with Regulation ATS requirements, including recordkeeping and reporting responsibilities.

In addition, the guidance addresses valuation mechanics when trades are priced in non-U.S. dollar assets. For reporting and National Market System quotation purposes, firms may convert transaction values into U.S. dollars. However, the Division stated that any conversion method must be applied consistently, impartially, and reasonably. This clarification aims to ensure transparency while accommodating crypto-denominated pricing structures.

Stablecoin Capital Treatment and Broker-Dealer Operations

Beyond trading mechanics, the Division provided additional clarity on broker-dealer capital requirements, particularly under Rule 15c3-1, the Net Capital Rule.

The Division stated it would not oppose a broker-dealer considering its proprietary holdings in a payment stablecoin as readily marketable. In calculating net capital, the firm may apply a 2% haircut to the market value of its larger long or short proprietary stablecoin position. This position offers greater certainty for firms engaging in crypto-related activities.

The guidance then expands to operational roles. A broker-dealer that operates an alternative trading system may simultaneously perform custodial, brokerage, or clearing functions. However, each function must independently comply with applicable federal securities laws. In other words, combining roles is permitted, but regulatory responsibilities remain distinct.

Closely related is the question of clearing agency registration. The Division stated that separate registration would not be required when a broker-dealer clears and settles customer trades as part of customary brokerage or dealing activity. For example, this may involve debiting and crediting internal customer accounts. This clarification helps define the boundary between brokerage functions and clearing agency obligations.

Disclosure Standards and Regulation M Relief for Crypto ETPs

The update also addresses transparency requirements for trading venues. The Division has clarified that disclosures concerning crypto asset security operations can be made using Form ATS or Form ATS-N. Broker-dealers must describe differences in subscriber access, onboarding procedures, settlement processes, and trading mechanics linked to crypto activities. This includes specific disclosures concerning pairs trading arrangements.

Finally, the Division turned to crypto exchange-traded products. It stated that it would not object to transactions in crypto ETP shares under circumstances similar to those outlined in the SEC staff’s 2006 Regulation M no-action letter for commodity-based investment vehicles. This position applies only if the ETP shares are listed on a national securities exchange, and participants avoid conduct that would violate Regulation M outside a permitted distribution.

Overall, the guidance does not alter the regulatory framework governing crypto markets. Instead, it clarifies how existing securities laws apply to evolving trading structures, capital treatments, and product offerings in the digital asset space.