BTC 15-minute increase of 0.65%: Macro cooling and large investors adding positions jointly drive a short-term rebound

On February 15, 2026, from 04:00 to 04:15 (UTC), the price of BTC experienced a short-term increase of 0.65%, recording a positive return. This fluctuation occurred at the intersection of the Asian and European trading sessions. Although liquidity remained stable compared to the previous period, overall market volatility continued to stay elevated. Over the past few days, BTC price stabilized and rebounded from $65,000 to the $70,000 range, with buying pressure dominating during this window, attracting market attention.

The main drivers of this movement were the positive macroeconomic environment and the resonance with tight market liquidity. Recently, cooling U.S. inflation data has boosted risk assets, driving increased buying interest in BTC; meanwhile, spot trading volume has fallen to its lowest levels in nearly two years, with trading activity extremely fragile. In such low liquidity conditions, even small large orders can push prices higher. Coupled with continuous accumulation by whales and institutions, this has formed a support base. Since January, whales have bought over 56,000 BTC and have maintained net inflows through OTC and ETF channels, providing a solid foundation for the current rally.

Additionally, retail investors have been reducing their holdings amid extreme fear, selling 0.34% of their positions over the past five days, creating space for institutions and whales to “buy low.” On-chain data shows that large holders frequently transfer chips to major exchanges, quickly operating within short-term high-volume trading zones, which further amplifies price fluctuations. Meanwhile, BTC has found support at the $70,000 level, with technical indicators like MACD and RSI showing slight strength. Arbitrage activities in the derivatives market have also accelerated short-term volatility, creating a multi-party resonance that pushes prices higher.

Currently, BTC market liquidity remains fragile, and prices are highly sensitive to capital flows, with significant short-term volatility risks. Continuous monitoring of large fund inflows into exchanges, whale behavior on-chain, and extreme shifts in market sentiment is essential. From a technical perspective, close attention should be paid to the $70,000 support zone and related medium- to short-term volatility indicators. Given the rapid inflows and outflows of short-term funds, users should remain vigilant against sharp retracements and stay updated on the latest market developments.