MARKET OBSERVATIONS
February 9, 2026 to February 15, 2026
NCITM Performance (Weekly): The Nasdaq CME CryptoTM Index whose seven constituents now all have regulated CME futures following this week's launch of ADA, LINK, and XLM contract, - declined 3.5%. ETH (-7.4%) was the largest detractor, followed by BTC (-3.4%) and SOL (-1.4%). The week's macro backdrop was defined by contradictions: payrolls came in nearly double consensus while CPI cooled to 2.4%, complicating the Fed's rate path and sustaining uncertainty across risk assets. The deceleration in selling pressure, coupled with resilience in select altcoins, suggests the market is shifting from acute deleveraging toward range-bound consolidation as participants digest mixed policy signals.
CPI favors cuts, but payrolls push back
CPI data came in favorable for rate cuts, but stronger-than-expected payroll numbers complicate the picture - sending mixed signals on the Fed's path forward.1
Banks push for yield ban as White House talks stall
Stablecoin yield remains the key sticking point blocking the Clarity Act; a Feb 10 White House meeting between banks and crypto firms failed to resolve the dispute, with banks demanding a complete ban on stablecoin vields.2
Bitcoin whales ramp up buying amid 40% pullback
Bitcoin whales (1,000+ BTC wallets) accumulated ~53,000 coins in the past week—the most aggressive buying since November—amid a 40% pullback.3

