Bitcoin bounces 3.5% from $63,000 lows as whale accumulation surges and the Fear and Greed Index sits at 11.
Bitcoin posted its strongest intraday bounce since mid-February, climbing 3.5% from Monday's $63,000 floor as on-chain data reveals large holders are aggressively buying the dip.
Bitcoin surged to approximately $65,400 on Tuesday, recovering from a low near $63,000 that marked the deepest point of February's extended selloff. The move came with $22.5 billion in 24-hour trading volume, well above the recent average.
Ethereum climbed over 5% to approximately $1,940, while Solana led the major altcoin recovery with gains above 7%. The broader market rallied alongside BTC, but the Crypto Fear and Greed Index remains at just 11, firmly in "Extreme Fear" territory.
The bounce followed days of heavy selling triggered by renewed U.S. tariff concerns and broader risk-off sentiment across global markets. February is still on track for a roughly 19% monthly decline for Bitcoin, its worst since June 2022.
While retail investors have been selling, on-chain data tells a different story at the whale level. Ethereum accumulation addresses added more than 2.5 million ETH during February, pushing total holdings to 26.7 million ETH, up from 22 million at the start of 2026. Cardano whales and sharks accumulated 819 million ADA over six months of falling prices.
The extreme fear reading of 11 has historically been a contrarian signal. Price recoveries from single-digit or low-teens fear levels have, in past cycles, preceded significant rallies. BlackRock withdrew 2,086 BTC and 8,459 ETH from Coinbase on February 24, suggesting continued institutional accumulation despite the downturn.
The $60,000 level remains the critical support zone. A sustained break below could trigger an estimated $2 billion in cascading long liquidations. On the upside, Bitcoin faces resistance at $66,400, and bulls need a daily close above that level to confirm the short-term reversal. President Trump's upcoming congressional address could inject fresh volatility depending on tariff policy signals. Stablecoin flows also bear watching, as roughly $14 billion left the market between December and February.
This is a developing story. The rebound is encouraging, but until fear subsides and stablecoin inflows return, the broader downtrend remains intact. The gap between whale buying and retail selling will eventually resolve, and historically, smart money has been on the right side.
Wall Street giant Citigroup projects Bitcoin could reach $143,000 within 12 months, citing ETF demand and regulatory tailwinds as key catalysts.
The largest US bank is assessing spot and derivatives trading services as regulatory clarity enables traditional finance to deepen crypto involvement.
All 12 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw positive inflows on March 2, totaling $458M as BTC rebounds from February lows.
Disclaimer: News content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market conditions can change rapidly. Always conduct your own research.
