Bitcoin price is hovering around $68,500 as traders watch for potential volatility around Chinese New Year, a period that has historically coincided with short-term shifts in crypto liquidity.
- Bitcoin is trading around $68,500 ahead of Chinese New Year, a period that has historically seen mixed crypto performance, with some years showing pre-holiday weakness.
- Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said retail users are “buying the dip,” with February $BTC and $ETH balances equal to or higher than December levels.
- Technically, $BTC remains below its 50-day SMA near $83,900, with support at $65,000 and $60,000–$62,000, and resistance around $72,000 and $76,000–$80,000.
Chinese New Year effect — seasonal pressure or coincidence?
Chinese New Year has at times aligned with weakness in Bitcoin ($BTC) and broader crypto markets.
The theory is that traders in Asia may reduce exposure ahead of the holiday to free up cash, leading to temporary selling pressure. In some past cycles, $BTC saw pullbacks in the days leading into Lunar New Year.
However, the pattern is far from consistent. There have also been years where Bitcoin rallied shortly after the holiday period. Crypto markets today are also more globally distributed than in earlier cycles, reducing the likelihood that one regional holiday alone drives price direction.
Adding another layer, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong recently said retail users on the exchange are “buying the dip.”
According to his data, retail $BTC and $ETH balances in February are equal to or higher than December levels, suggesting long-term holders are accumulating rather than capitulating.
If that trend holds, it could cushion any seasonal selling.
Retail users on Coinbase have been very resilient during these market conditions, according to our data:
– They’ve been buying the dip – we’ve seen a native unit increase for retail users across $BTC and $ETH
– They have diamond hands – vast majority of customers had native unit…
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) February 15, 2026
What Bitcoin price analysis shows
On the daily chart, $BTC remains below its 50-day simple moving average near $83,900, confirming that the short-term trend is still bearish.
Price has formed a series of lower highs since topping near the mid-$90,000 range in January.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits around 35, recovering from deeply oversold levels near 20 earlier this month. That rebound suggests selling momentum has cooled, but it does not yet confirm a trend reversal.
Immediate support is near $65,000, with stronger support in the $60,000–$62,000 zone, where a sharp capitulation wick formed earlier in February. Resistance stands near $72,000, followed by a heavier supply zone between $76,000 and $80,000.
A break below $65,000 could reopen downside risk toward $60,000. A decisive move above $72,000 would be the first sign that bulls are regaining control, regardless of seasonal narratives.