Ether, XRP, Solana slide in crypto retreat despite tech-led lift in Asia stocks

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Ether, XRP, Solana slide in crypto retreat despite tech-led lift in Asia stocks Major tokens stayed under pressure even as risk sentiment improved in equities, with a firmer dollar and Fed rate uncertainty keeping crypto rallies short-lived. By Shaurya Malwa Updated Feb 19, 2026, 6:54 a.m. Published Feb 19, 2026, 6:48 a.m. Make us preferred on Google What to know : Major cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ether, XRP and Solana, fell on Thursday despite gains in Asian and U.S. equity markets. The pullback in digital assets tracked a firmer dollar after Federal Reserve minutes signaled no urgency to cut interest rates and even left the door open to further hikes. Gold’s steady strength as a haven, contrasted with crypto’s choppy trading, is intensifying debate over bitcoin’s "digital gold" narrative even as some analysts expect a sharper bitcoin rebound once risk appetite returns. Crypto prices fell across majors on Thursday, with ether, XRP and Solana leading declines as traders struggled to extend this week’s brief stabilization. Bitcoin traded near $66,700, down about 1.7% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk market data . Ether slipped a similar amount to around $1,965, while XRP fell nearly 5% and Solana dropped close to 4%. BNB and Dogecoin were also in the red, reflecting broad weakness rather than token-specific moves. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy . The slide came even as Asian equities pushed higher in thin holiday trading. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose about 0.5%, Japan’s Nikkei gained roughly 0.85%, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped around 3% to a record high. The move followed a rebound in U.S. tech stocks after Nvidia signed a multi-year deal to supply Meta Platforms with AI chips. Crypto did not participate in that optimism. Instead, price action remains heavy. Recent bounces have been met with steady selling, with gains fading as soon as momentum stalls. Unlike earlier in the quarter, the market is no longer unraveling on every push lower, but it is also failing to attract sustained spot demand that would shift the tone. The dollar firmed after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed policymakers were in no rush to cut rates. Some officials even flagged the possibility of rate hikes if inflation remains sticky. A stronger dollar typically tightens global liquidity and weighs on risk assets, and crypto’s pullback tracked that pattern. Gold has been doing what gold does best, absorbing uncertainty with quiet strength even as risk assets chop around, and that contrast is sharpening the debate over whether bitcoin can still claim “digital gold” status. Alex Tsepaev, chief strategy officer at B2PRIME Group, said in an email to CoinDesk that he metal’s resilience reflects investors reaching for the simplest hedge in a market still jittery on geopolitics, policy and the Fed. "I believe that gold will continue to be a default haven and will probably attempt to break through the tough $5,000–$5,100 ceiling. That said, once risk appetite returns, ETF flows stabilize, and U.S. regulations stop dragging, Bitcoin may recover considerably more quickly," he said. "After all, Bitcoin attracts liquidity faster than gold, partly because it’s still sometimes referred to as a speculative asset." Oil prices held onto recent gains amid lingering U.S.-Iran tensions, keeping geopolitical risk in the background. Against that backdrop, crypto remains caught between periodic relief rallies and a macro environment that is not yet supportive enough to turn them into something more durable. More For You Zoomex: Precise Systems of Fairness and Transparency by Design By CoinDesk Jan 31, 2026 Commissioned by Zoomex Read full story More For You Bitcoin’s $40,000 put becomes second-largest options bet ahead of February expiry next week By James Van Straten | Edited by Sam Reynolds 7 minutes ago Heavy positioning at lower strikes signals rising demand for downside protection for bitcoin. What to know : The $40,000 put option is the second largest strike by open interest, with about $490 million in notional value, highlighting strong demand for crash protection into the Feb. 27 expiry. Roughly $566 million is positioned at the $75,000 strike, the max pain level. Calls still outnumber puts overall, showing traders are balancing rebound exposure with downside hedges. Read full story Latest Crypto News Bitcoin’s $40,000 put becomes second-largest options bet ahead of February expiry next week 7 minutes ago Bitcoin is about to log its longest losing streak since 2022 as geopolitical nerves hit risk trades 1 hour ago Coinbase lets XRP, ADA and dogecoin holders borrow up to $100,000 without selling 1 hour ago Bitcoin can bounce higher — but the market still lacks fuel for a real run 2 hours ago Bitcoin shakes off U.S. session losses as Trump says U.S. trade deficit cut by 78% 2 hours ago WLFI surges 10% after Apex stablecoin deal, outperforming BTC and ETH 3 hours ago Top Stories What happens on prediction platforms can steer traditional markets, NYSE chief says 14 hours ago Goldman Sachs' David Solomon says he owns 'very little' bitcoin but watching it closely 14 hours ago Banking trade groups responsible for impasse on market structure bill, Brian Armstrong says 8 hours ago Real estate billionaire Barry Sternlicht is ready to tokenize assets, but says U.S. regulation blocks it 8 hours ago Ethereum’s 50% staking milestone triggers backlash over 'misleading' supply data 13 hours ago