Truist Wealth expands investment solutions with cryptocurrency [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationTruist Investment Services offering client access to two spot Bitcoin ETFsCHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Wealth, the private wealth business of Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC), announces that Truist Investment Services, Inc. (TIS) financial advisors will now be able to offer two SEC-registered spot bitcoin exchangetraded funds (ETFs) sponsored by Fidelity and BlackRock.Thes ...

Crypto hedge funds are sharply pulling back from the market, raising cash levels as risk appetite deteriorates across digital assets.  The move away from the market comes as experts suggest Bitcoin (BTC) is facing an “identity crisis.” Institutional Retreat From Bitcoin Accelerates Major crypto hedge funds have shifted their portfolios in early 2026. According to Nic Puckrin, co-founder of Coin Bureau, the average cash balance has risen to levels not seen since early 2025. Furthermore, for the first tim ...

Core Insights - A major U.S. crypto trading exchange, Kraken, has joined other digital asset firms in supporting "Trump Accounts," which are savings accounts for newborns aimed at promoting long-term wealth building through early capital contributions [1][3] - The initiative is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), providing an initial $1,000 contribution from the government for children born between 2025 and 2028, although crypto products are currently excluded [2] Group 1: Company Involvement - Kraken announced its sponsorship of Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026, aligning with other crypto industry players like Coinbase and Robinhood [3] - The sponsorship reflects Kraken's belief in modernizing financial services by expanding access and encouraging participation in long-term wealth building [4][5] Group 2: Strategic Positioning - Kraken's Co-CEO emphasized that the initiative is an investment in Wyoming's future, highlighting the state's leadership in crypto innovation and regulation [6] - Wyoming is recognized as a crypto-friendly state, having established Kraken Financial as the first Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) in the U.S. and promoting blockchain-focused legislation [6][7]

Core Insights - Spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced significant outflows totaling $410.4 million on Thursday, with BlackRock's IBIT leading the decline at $157.6 million, followed by Fidelity's FBTC at $104.1 million and Grayscale's GBTC at $59.1 million, indicating a challenging environment for institutional investors [1] - The erratic flow pattern suggests wavering institutional conviction, leaving retail traders to navigate a seemingly directionless market despite high daily trading volumes [2] Institutional Dynamics - The nomination of Kevin to the Federal Reserve has lowered near-term rate cut expectations, leading to rapid repricing across equities, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, while the Fear and Greed index has reached extreme fear levels not seen since 2023, driven by negative narratives in the bear market [3] - There exists a structural tug-of-war in the market, with institutions that entered late in 2025 taking profits, while a messy short-covering cycle is simultaneously occurring [4] Market Volatility - The volatility in daily ETF flows is driven by the tension between short-term panic and long-term optimism, as noted by analysts [4] - As Bitcoin hovers around the $75,000 range, which aligns with mining production costs, institutional algorithms are triggering automated liquidations due to hawkish Federal Reserve expectations, resulting in large ETF outflows [5] - Much of the capital is not exiting the crypto space entirely but is instead shifting into more compliant derivatives channels like the CME, creating a "liquidity mirage" characterized by activity without clear direction, negatively impacting retail trader sentiment [6]

Core Viewpoint - The cryptocurrency market, particularly Bitcoin, is experiencing a significant downturn, with Bitcoin falling to around $60,000, leading to a reassessment of its utility as a digital currency and store of value [1][2][4]. Market Performance - Bitcoin dropped to a low of $60,062, marking a decline of over 52% from its all-time high of $126,000 in early October 2025 [2]. - In a single day, Bitcoin lost more than 15%, with its daily relative strength index falling to 18, indicating extreme oversold conditions [3]. - Other cryptocurrencies, such as Ether and Solana, also saw declines of 24% and 26% respectively for the week, reflecting a broader loss of confidence in the crypto market [3]. Institutional Sentiment - Institutional interest in Bitcoin appears to be waning, as evidenced by significant outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which recorded over $3 billion in outflows in January alone, following $2 billion in December and $7 billion in November [9]. - Investors are increasingly skeptical about the willingness of financial institutions and governments to adopt Bitcoin, which has been a major driver of its value in recent years [7]. Comparative Analysis - Over the past year, Bitcoin has decreased by 28%, while gold has increased by 72%, highlighting gold's effectiveness as a hedge against macroeconomic risks [5]. - Bitcoin has been trading down alongside other risk-on assets, raising doubts about its status as a safe haven during periods of economic uncertainty [6]. Market Dynamics - The current market downturn is characterized as a macro-driven deleveraging rather than a structural failure within the crypto ecosystem [5]. - Efforts to position Bitcoin as "digital gold" or an alternative to traditional safe havens have lost traction, with many initiatives to promote Bitcoin as a payment method failing to gain momentum [10][11]. Future Outlook - Despite the current challenges, some investors remain optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term potential, although there is a growing concern about the security of its underlying network [12][13].

Core Insights - The company, formerly known as MicroStrategy, is facing significant challenges as its stock price declines alongside bitcoin, which has dropped below $64,000, leading to a net loss of over $12 billion [1][3]. Company Overview - The company primarily operates as a bitcoin holding entity, with a small software revenue of $123 million last quarter, and investors buy its stock for indirect exposure to bitcoin [2]. - Historically, the company has profited by buying bitcoin and selling stock at higher prices, creating a cycle of investment [2]. Market Performance - From 2020 to 2024, the company's shares surged over 3,500%, attracting investors seeking indirect exposure to bitcoin [3]. - The company's market-to-net asset value (mNAV) has fallen to 1.09, indicating it trades at a minimal premium to bitcoin [5]. Investment Strategy - The company has consistently purchased bitcoin at an average price of $76,000, with recent acquisitions at nearly $88,000 each [5]. - Investor sentiment is cautious, with notable figures like Michael Burry warning that a dip below $70,000 for bitcoin could lead to significant losses for the company [5]. Competitive Landscape - The emergence of spot bitcoin ETFs from firms like BlackRock and Fidelity has provided investors with alternative means to gain bitcoin exposure, potentially diminishing the company's value proposition [3].

Core Insights - The recent Bitcoin crash was not due to manipulation or panic but highlighted that Bitcoin has become what it aimed to disrupt, aligning more with traditional financial systems [1][30] - Institutional selling from American entities led to a significant negative Coinbase premium, indicating a lack of confidence among US institutions while global retail traders attempted to buy the dip [4][28] Market Dynamics - For 21 consecutive days leading up to the crash, Bitcoin traded at a discount on Coinbase compared to offshore exchanges, with the Coinbase premium reaching a negative $167.8, the worst in a year [3][4] - Hedge funds have exited their Bitcoin positions as the basis trade, which previously offered 17% risk-free returns, diminished to below 5% by early 2026, resulting in a one-third reduction in Bitcoin ETF exposure [2][8] Institutional Behavior - The persistent negative premium during the crash indicated aggressive selling from institutions, with no significant buying interest from institutional players [5][20] - Stablecoins like Tether and USD Coin saw a loss of nearly $14 billion from December to February, suggesting that investors were exiting the crypto ecosystem rather than reallocating within it [5][6] Structural Changes - Bitcoin's integration into institutional frameworks has led to it behaving like a traditional asset, with its price now closely correlated with technology stocks, reflecting a shift from its original decentralized vision [18][22] - The mechanisms of ETF creation and redemption have resulted in mechanical selling during outflows, further distancing Bitcoin from its foundational principles [16][23] Future Scenarios - Three potential paths for Bitcoin's future include a return of institutional capital through Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, a stagnant market with continued ETF outflows, or a prolonged range-bound price movement between $60,000 and $75,000 [24][25] - The current holder base lacks the ideological commitment seen in previous market cycles, with institutional investors acting based on performance metrics rather than long-term belief in Bitcoin [26][27]

Core Insights - U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw a significant turnaround in investor flows on February 2, attracting nearly $562 million in net daily flows after weeks of substantial net outflows [1][2] - The cumulative net inflows for all U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs reached $55.57 billion, marking one of the largest single-day inflows since early January [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The inflow recovery followed a challenging period for Bitcoin-linked investment products, with spot ETFs experiencing heavy redemptions totaling $817.87 million on January 29 and $509.70 million on January 30 [3] - Major stock indexes have been declining since October, contributing to thin trading in both conventional and crypto markets, with total net assets held by U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs dropping to $100.38 billion from over $125 billion in mid-January [4] - Despite the inflow surge, the decline in total net assets reflects Bitcoin's price drawdown rather than a decrease in ETF participation [4] Group 2: Trading Activity - Trading activity rebounded alongside inflows, with the total daily traded value across spot Bitcoin ETFs reaching $7.68 billion, indicating active repositioning rather than passive inflows [5] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust remained the largest fund, holding $60.17 billion in net assets, while Fidelity's FBTC led the day in inflows with $153.35 million, bringing its cumulative inflows to $11.43 billion [6] - Grayscale's GBTC saw no new inflows and faced cumulative net outflows of $25.70 billion, while other issuers like Bitwise, ARK Invest, and VanEck reported positive flows [7]

Market Overview - The cryptocurrency market is experiencing stagnation, with Bitcoin priced around $78,000, marking a 10-month low and a significant decline from the explosive rallies of late 2024 and 2025 [2] - There has been a notable capital flight from Bitcoin, with over $500 million in outflows from Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the last week, indicating investor fatigue with the lack of market movement [3] Investment Shifts - The current market boredom is prompting a shift in investment strategies, as speculative capital is moving from passive holding to high-velocity trading, indicating a preference for more dynamic investment opportunities [4] - Companies like Cboe Global Markets and Coinbase Global are adapting to this trend by enhancing their platforms to facilitate speculation rather than accumulation, positioning themselves to capture increased trading volume [5] Company Strategies - Cboe Global Markets is combining defensive income through dividends with growth potential via regulated prediction products, appealing to investors seeking stability amid volatility [7] - Coinbase is diversifying its revenue by expanding into derivatives and prediction markets, aiming for long-term sustainability in a changing financial landscape [7]

Core Viewpoint - Analysts at Compass Point suggest that the current crypto bear market, particularly for Bitcoin, may be nearing its end, despite recent price drops below $81,000 and into the mid-$70,000s [1] Price Levels and Market Dynamics - Compass Point identifies a price floor for Bitcoin between $60,000 and $68,000, where approximately 7% of long-term holders purchased their BTC [2] - The price range between $70,000 and $80,000 has shown limited structural support, with less than 1% of long-term holder supply originating from this zone, leading to accelerated downward price movements when Bitcoin enters this level [3] - Support zones significantly influence holder behavior, with stronger areas promoting continued holding and thinner zones leading to quicker sales during uncertainty [4] Institutional Influence and Market Conditions - The introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs has had a direct impact on Bitcoin's price action, with significant price breaks typically occurring alongside bear markets in equities [5] - Institutional interest remains a key factor in the long-term outlook for Bitcoin, despite increasing regulatory scrutiny and central banks exploring digital currencies [6] Fund Flows and Market Sentiment - Recent data indicates periods of net outflows from Bitcoin-related products, although February 2 saw inflows of approximately $562 million, interrupting a previous streak of outflows [7] - Year-to-date figures show net outflows in the billions, with around $1 billion reported, contributing to selling pressure as funds adjust their holdings [7]