Liquidity Paradox: Stocks Rise, Bitcoin Loses to Gold, Awaits End of US Political Cycle
02/17/2026 • Богдан Семичев

The current state of Bitcoin is generating heated debate in the professional community, with arguments for a quick recovery clashing with predictions of a further collapse. While some analysts see the current decline as a historically advantageous entry point, others point to the continued weakness of fundamental indicators and the risk of a fall to $30,000. Amid a growing divergence between traditional finance and the crypto industry, the market is frozen in anticipation of a decisive momentum.
Proponents of the optimistic scenario rely on the "magic of numbers" and statistics from past cycles: buying the asset during a correction of around 50% has historically yielded an average of 125% profit over a one-year horizon. Another important factor is that Bitcoin has never posted two consecutive calendar years of losses, supporting belief in the continuation of its long-term upward trend. However, skeptics point out that past bear markets have allowed for deeper declines, and the current stabilization may prove to be only a temporary respite before the final wave of capitulation.
The derivatives market has already undergone a massive "cleansing": open interest has fallen by 55% from its all-time high, a record for the past three years. The mass exit of highly leveraged speculators has significantly reduced the system's overheating, which typically precedes either a bottom or a prolonged sideways move. Nevertheless, the on-chain SOPR indicator, below one, signals that investors are continuing to lock in losses, which is typical of market stress phases rather than typical corrections within a rally.
The paradox of the current moment lies in the macroeconomic divergence: the US Federal Reserve has begun injecting liquidity, and expectations of rate cuts are growing. However, the crypto market, unlike stock indices, is currently ignoring this capital influx. Bitcoin is still traded as a risky technology asset and significantly underperforms as a safe-haven asset compared to gold. Experts estimate that its transformation into a fully-fledged "digital precious metal" could take up to 20 years. Unconfirmed rumors of problems at major trading platforms are further fueling anxiety, forcing investors to exercise extreme caution.
