The cryptocurrency market has experienced a notable rebound in late February 2026 after enduring one of the worst starts to a year in more than a decade. Following major selling pressure that pushed Bitcoin #CryptoMarketRebounds BTC( and Ethereum )ETH( to multi-month lows, prices have recovered sharply in recent sessions — though with some pullbacks and volatility today. This recovery has sparked fresh discussion about whether this is a temporary rally or an early sign of a stronger shift.

Crypto Market Rebounds Strongly – The Big Picture
After weeks of intense downside pressure, total crypto market capitalization rose approximately 4-7% in the primary rebound session early this week, driving it back to the $2.2–$2.3 trillion level before a slight correction. This followed a brutal selloff where the market felt like "Crypto Winter 2.0" — with extreme fear dominating sentiment.
This rebound wiped out nearly ) million in short positions $500 bearish bets liquidated as prices surged (, adding explosive fuel to the upside.
Broader risk assets ) such as software stocks and AI-related names ( also rebounded, providing positive spillover to crypto.
However, at the end of February 26–27, 2026, some gains began to fade: BTC pulled back after testing higher levels, indicating the market remains choppy and hasn't fully escaped trouble.

2. Market Recovering After Sharp Decline – What's Behind It?
Early 2026 has been historically poor: Bitcoin declined roughly 24% year-to-date ) from peaks near $100k+ in late 2025 (, while Ethereum fell even steeper ) approximately 34-38% (.
Prices tested deep support zones — BTC reached lows around $60,000–$64,000 ) some reports noted lows of ~ ( on Feb 6, 2026, ETH slumped toward $1,800–$2,000.
Drivers included macroeconomic uncertainty $60k tariffs, geopolitics ), profit-taking after the 2025 bull run, and extreme fear ( Crypto Fear & Greed Index plunged to historic lows like 5–11 in early February — the worst in years ).
Oversold technicals ( RSI heavily oversold ) + a short squeeze that triggered a fast rebound: Buyers piled in aggressively at those low levels, forcing bears to cover positions and triggering the rebound.

3. Major Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin and Ethereum Recovering in Price
Bitcoin ( BTC ): Surged 6–10%+ in the strongest sessions ( for example, Wednesday's rally ), briefly touching near $70,000 ( peaks around $69,000–$70,027 reported ) before pulling back. Late February 26 data: trading in the $67,000–$68,000 range ( some sources showing ~$67,400–$67,900, with small daily declines of 2–3% ). This marks a solid recovery from Tuesday's lows but faces resistance at $68k–$70k.
Ethereum ( ETH ): Outperforming at certain points — surging 8–12%+ at peaks, reclaiming and holding above $2,000 ( peaks around $2,080, current levels ~$2,000–$2,050 after pullback ). ETH's strength indicates broader altcoin participation beyond BTC leadership.
Altcoins are joining enthusiastically: Solana ( SOL ) up 13% in the rally, Dogecoin ( DOGE ) leading with 9%+, XRP +8%, Cardano ( ADA ), and others posting double-digit gains in the surge — showing broad buying interest.

4. Showing Fresh Buying Interest, Better Sentiment, and Stronger Market Momentum – Key Signals
Fresh Buying Interest → Large short liquidations ( around $500M ) created a squeeze, while spot buyers ( including ETF inflows — over ) in one day for BTC ETFs ( piled in at oversold levels. Option expiries $500M for example, $8.9 billion in BTC/ETH options on Feb 27 ) could add volatility but also indicate buying interest as prices fell to higher strikes.
Better Sentiment → Crypto Fear & Greed Index surged from "Extreme Fear" ( 11 or lower ) to around 16 within 24 hours — still fearful but this is the first significant uptick this month. Traders are shifting from pure panic to cautious optimism.
Stronger Market Momentum → This isn't a dead-cat bounce; it's a relief rally with technical bounce from major support ( — for example, BTC's double-bottom attempt near $63k–$64k, ETH holding long-term levels ). Momentum indicators have turned bullish in the short term, but resistance looms in the critical zone of $68k– (. Analysts warn that sustainability depends on a clean break above — if not, there is a risk of retesting lows if macro headwinds return. Positive catalysts such as easing AI/stock fears and potential supportive news or policies help reinforce this outlook.

Overall Takeaway
This rebound feels like a healthy reset after an oversold crash — Bitcoin and Ethereum show resilience, altcoins are lighting up, and sentiment is improving from deep fear. But crypto remains volatile: small pullbacks today ) BTC -2–3%, ETH -3–4% ( remind us that the trend has not fully reversed. Key levels to watch: BTC holding support around $65k $70k for a bullish outlook; breaking above $70k+ would confirm stronger momentum. Long-term, many still see significant upside if macro conditions stabilize.