Updated: February 5, 2026 | Tapbit Market Cycles & Macro Risk Desk
The cryptocurrency market suffered one of its most violent weekly wipeouts in recent memory during the first week of February 2026. Total crypto market capitalization shed approximately $467–500 billion (estimates vary slightly by source), with Bitcoin leading the rout by plunging roughly 40% from its late-January local high near $126,000 to a 15-month intraday low of $71,800–$72,200 on February 4–5.
The crash erased speculative froth built during the late-2025 euphoria phase and triggered widespread deleveraging: cumulative futures liquidations exceeded $16 billion in ten days, with single-day peaks reaching $2.5–$3 billion. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index collapsed into single digits (14–23 range), signaling extreme capitulation. This article dissects the primary catalysts, on-chain & derivatives signals, technical structure, sentiment extremes and realistic scenarios for whether $70,000 marks a cycle floor or merely another pause before deeper pain.
Timeline of the February 2026 Crypto Crash
| Date | BTC Price Range | 24h Change | Key Catalyst / Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28–31 | $118K → $108K | –8.5% | Fed hawkish tilt + tariff rhetoric resurgence |
| Feb 1–2 | $108K → $92K | –14.8% | ETF outflows accelerate, funding rates deeply negative |
| Feb 3 | $92K → $78K | –15.2% | $2.2B+ liquidations in 24h, weekend thin liquidity |
| Feb 4 | $78K → $72K | –7.7% | Bessent testimony: “No bailout authority” |
| Feb 5 (intraday) | $71.8K low → $73.5K | +2.1% recovery | Capitulation flush + early dip-buying |
Primary Catalysts Behind the $500B Wipeout
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s congressional testimony (Feb 4)
Explicit statement during House Financial Services Committee hearing: Treasury has no statutory authority to purchase cryptocurrencies with taxpayer funds or direct banks to provide sector bailouts. Removed tail-risk bullish narrative of government reserve buying or implicit backstops → triggered tactical selling and risk-off rotation. - Record futures liquidation cascade
Cumulative liquidations topped $16 billion in ten days (Coinglass), with single-day peaks reaching $2.5–$3 billion. Long-side dominance amplified downside momentum; funding rates turned deeply negative (longs paying shorts at –0.03% to –0.08%). - Accelerating spot ETF outflows
Net redemptions from U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs exceeded $1.5–$2 billion in the first week of February (multiple analyst aggregates), steadily removing the consistent spot bid that had anchored price during prior corrections. - Macro & liquidity squeeze
Fed “higher-for-longer” messaging (no early rate cuts), renewed tariff threats (autos, semiconductors, copper), geopolitical noise (Middle East, Venezuela sanctions), and elevated real yields kept risk appetite suppressed. - Technical breakdown confirmation
Loss of $84,000–$85,000 cluster (prior multi-month support) triggered algorithmic stop cascades and capitulation selling. ETH/BTC ratio made fresh cycle lows, underscoring altcoin underperformance.
Technical Structure & Sentiment Extremes – February 5, 2026
Current Price (late session): ~$73,500
- Immediate Support: $72,000–$73,000 (intraday low zone)
- Critical Support: $68,000–$70,000 (200-week MA + psychological level)
- Next Major Support: $62,000–$65,000 (2025 consolidation zone)
- Immediate Resistance: $76,000–$78,000 (prior capitulation cluster)
- Medium-Term Resistance: $85,000–$88,000 (downtrend line from 2025 peak)
- RSI (daily): ~22–28 → extreme oversold, historically strong reversal zone
- Fear & Greed Index: 14–23 → capitulation-level reading
Trading Strategies on Tapbit – February 2026
- Sign Up on Tapbit (0% maker fees)
- Deposit USDT or JPY via bank transfer / P2P
- Capitulation accumulation: DCA BTC/USDT on pullbacks to $72k–$74k exhaustion zones
- Relief rally entry: Long BTC/USDT perpetuals on confirmed $76k–$78k reclaim (20–50x leverage, isolated margin)
- Risk-off hedge: Long XAU/USDT perpetuals if macro fears intensify
- Risk control: Max 1–2% account risk per trade; trailing stops below recent lows
FAQs – Bitcoin February 2026 Crash
What caused Bitcoin to crash in February 2026?
Treasury Secretary Bessent’s explicit rejection of bailout authority or government BTC purchases, $16B+ futures liquidations, accelerating ETF outflows, macro caution (Fed pause, tariffs), and technical breakdown below $84k–$85k support.
Is $72,000 the bottom for Bitcoin?
Possible local floor if support holds and ETF flows stabilize. Break below opens risk toward $68k–$70k (200-week MA). Sustained hold + volume confirmation would signal relief rally potential.
Should I buy Bitcoin after the crash?
$72k–$74k offers favorable risk/reward for staged DCA entries if conviction is high. Wait for $76k–$78k reclaim + higher volume before aggressive longs. Below $72k risks deeper test toward $62k–$65k.
Will the government ever buy Bitcoin?
Bessent confirmed no current authority exists. Any strategic reserve would require new legislation — unlikely in the near term given Treasury/Fed opposition.
Conclusion & Near-Term Outlook
Bitcoin’s ~40% crash in early February 2026 — dropping below $72,000 — was triggered by a classic convergence of macro caution, leveraged flush ($16B+ liquidations), accelerating ETF outflows, and Treasury Secretary Bessent’s explicit rejection of government bailout authority or BTC purchases during February 4 congressional testimony. The move erased speculative froth and forced significant deleveraging, creating extreme oversold conditions (RSI ~22–28, Fear & Greed ~14–23).
Trade Bitcoin rebounds & volatility on Tapbit:
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risk of loss. Prices are highly volatile and can change rapidly. Government statements, ETF flows, funding rates and technical patterns do not guarantee future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose completely.
