Bitcoin’s price fluctuated significantly on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, after briefly falling below $67,000 earlier in the day, according to data from Binance Square. As of 7:44 AM UTC, the cryptocurrency had rebounded to $68,074.75, representing a 0.53% decrease over the previous 24 hours.
The volatility follows a period of substantial shifts in February. On February 6th, the cryptocurrency experienced a more than 10% surge, reaching $69,772, marking its largest daily increase since March 2023, according to Market Screener. This recovery attempt came after an initial dip at the beginning of the month that raised concerns among investors.
The recent price swings occur amidst a broader downturn for the cryptocurrency market, which has shed over $1 trillion in value since October 10, 2025 – an event dubbed the “flash crash” by industry observers. The Trump family, with significant holdings in various crypto ventures, has been particularly affected. According to Fortune, American Bitcoin, a mining and holding firm backed by Donald Trump Jr. And Eric Trump, has seen its stock price plummet approximately 80% since the October crash, with its market capitalization falling from nearly $8.5 billion to just over $1 billion.
While most Trump-family-linked crypto assets have declined, $MELANIA, the memecoin launched by former First Lady Melania Trump, has fared relatively better, falling only 27% since the October market downturn. However, even $MELANIA remains down over 98% from its initial launch price prior to President Trump’s inauguration last year.
The fluctuations in the Trump family’s crypto portfolio mirror the wider volatility of the cryptocurrency market. President Trump, who campaigned on a promise to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the world,” has appointed regulators perceived as friendly to the industry and signed legislation criticized for being overly lenient. His election in November 2024 initially spurred optimism and a nearly doubling of Bitcoin’s value by October 2025, before the subsequent crash.
The Atlantic reported that Trump’s promotion of cryptocurrency, including limited-edition branded merchandise and deregulation efforts, coincided with substantial investments by his family in digital assets. Estimates suggest the Trump family’s crypto holdings were valued at approximately $3 billion in early January.
Despite the recent rebound above $68,000, the future trajectory of Bitcoin remains uncertain. No definitive indication exists whether the price will continue to rise or experience further declines in the coming days.
