Feb 17, 2026: Today’s pulse came from 290 events, with total buy pressure $92.6M and total sell pressure $170.4M; BTC buy volume $21.0M versus sell $133.2M, and ETH stood out with $36.9M in buy volume against only $4.9M in sell, setting a cautious but selective mood as traders chased pockets of momentum while preserving capital.
BTC and ETH moved with the flow: BTC showed heavier sell pressure across scenes (88-92% imbalance noted on Hyperliquid, OKX Spot, and Coinbase), while ETH rode a stronger buy tilt around 50.6% on average, confirming selective risk-on for alt exposure even as overall liquidity cooled; pump and dump activity split the field with total pump volume at $12.3M and dumps at $10.0M, signaling a tug-of-war between breakout attempts and risk controls against a backdrop of above-average activity.
Pumps: RPL +26.5% across 5 exchanges (Bitunix, Bitget, Bybit) with $2.3M volume; SIREN +21.1% on 3 exchanges (Bitget, Bybit, Bitunix) with $1.1M; MEMEFI +20.5% on OKX Spot with $0.2M; ESP +18.6% on OKX and Bitget with $0.2M; STORJ +16.1% on Bitunix and Bitget with $0.5M. Dumps: RPL −22.2% on OKX Spot and Coinbase with $0.3M; SPACE −16.9% on OKX, OKX Spot and Bitunix with $3.3M; BNKR −12.4% on Coinbase with $0.1M; SIREN −11.2% on Bybit and −11.1% on Bitget with $0.4M each. Arbitrage: UMA 20.23% spread (buy Bybit Spot at $0.6003, sell Coinbase at $0.6230); RPL two entries at 12.37% (buy Coinbase $2.8000, sell OKX Spot $2.8980) and 11.51% (buy Gate Futures $2.4340, sell Bitget $2.5460); another RPL 11.08% (buy Gate Futures $2.8000, sell Bitunix $2.8590); Order flow skew showed BTC sell 92% on Hyperliquid/Bitget totaling $97.4M, ETH buy 90% on Hyperliquid/Bybit totaling $36.9M, with BTC buy-sell mix continuing to hint at tactical repositioning.
Key insights: watch for momentum pumps to fade unless sustained by continued bid support, and treat the hefty ETH buy flow as a cue to size selectively in alt bets; the Space dump stands out as a risk event given its $3.3M volume against a broad sell pressure backdrop, while arbitrage opportunities remain there but require speed and reliable routing to capture the ~11–20% spreads across venues. Tomorrow’s watchlist includes RPL for potential volatility, SIREN for continued volatility spread, and UMA for its notable 20.23% edge, while keepers of liquidity will monitor ETH’s ongoing buy-weight and BTC’s stubborn sell pressure. Remember: as I tell the young hands, one stitch in time saves nine—profit is a function of discipline and timing, not bravado—Uncle Sol.