Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 20) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$67,850.72, up by 1.2 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, February 20, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,959.77, up by 0.6 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.42, trading flat over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$83.59, down by 3.1 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
CME moves crypto derivatives to 24/7 schedule
CME Group will begin offering round-the-clock trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options on CME Globex starting May 29, 2026, pending regulatory approval.
The decision follows a record US$3 trillion in notional crypto derivatives volume in 2025. Year-to-date in 2026, crypto derivatives average daily volume has climbed 46 percent year over year to 407,200 contracts, while futures ADV is up 47 percent. Average daily open interest currently stands at 335,400 contracts.
By eliminating weekend closures, CME allows traders to hedge in real time as crypto markets move, reducing the price gap risk that builds when traditional markets are shut.
Bitcoin ETFs extend five-week outflow streak
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds logged another US$165.8 million in net redemptions on February 19, stretching a five-week outflow streak to nearly US$4 billion.
Weekly withdrawals since mid-January have ranged from US$318 million to US$1.49 billion, raising questions about whether institutional demand is cooling.
Despite the steady redemptions, Bitcoin edged up 1.4 percent over the past day to roughly US$67,800, lifting the broader crypto market cap to around US$2.4 trillion.
Solana meme coin PUNCH surges after exchange listing
A Solana-based meme coin known as PUNCH has surged sharply after securing a listing on a major exchange, briefly jumping more than 80 percent in a single session and posting eye-catching weekly gains.
The token’s market capitalization climbed past US$30 million as it ranked among CoinGecko’s top gainers.
The coin draws branding from a viral story about a rescued baby long-tailed macaque named Punch, which gained traction across social media.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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