3 secure cryptocurrencies that whales are buying and selling before February 2026

The year 2025 witnessed the rise of privacy coins, but by 2026, the market has become much more challenging. Major players that once led are now facing significant corrections, while new projects show signs of unstable recovery. As February approaches, “whales” have abandoned uncontrolled betting habits and shifted to selective trading strategies.

Instead of random buying and selling, they are focusing only on the following three privacy coins, based on momentum signals, early reversal indicators, and chart structures that can shape the next trend—whether it’s a strong rally or a deep decline.

Zcash (ZEC): Whales accumulate amid reversal signals

Zcash stood out as one of the strongest privacy coins last year, but entering 2026, the bullish momentum has noticeably diminished. Just last month, ZEC lost nearly 26% of its value, reflecting widespread risk aversion in the market. However, as February nears, positive signs are beginning to emerge.

In the past 24 hours, whales have significantly increased their holdings. The standard whale group has raised their holdings by 45.19%, reaching about 14,500 ZEC. Notably, the top 100 addresses also increased their ownership by 14.6%, totaling 43,722 ZEC. Overall, whales have bought approximately 6,500 ZEC, worth around $2.5 million, while exchange reserves decreased, indicating accumulation rather than distribution.

ZEC Whales | Source: NansenTechnical chart analysis explains whales’ involvement: Since late December, ZEC has been trading in a “bear flag” pattern— a continuation structure indicating a potential further 42% decline. However, currently, Zcash has broken above the upper trendline, weakening the bearish structure.

Momentum indicators also support a reversal. From 10/30 to 1/25, ZEC’s lows have been higher, while RSI lows have been lower—indicating a hidden “bullish divergence,” suggesting selling pressure is waning. Since this signal appeared, ZEC has recovered about 24%.

Zcash Price Analysis | Source: TradingView The key resistance zone ahead is at $449. If broken, the bear flag pattern will be invalidated, opening the door to a rally toward $561—where the bearish structure would be completely invalidated. Conversely, if the price falls below $325, the risk of a breakdown will reemerge, and the bullish thesis of whales will be negated.

Dusk (DUSK): Divergent moves among whale groups

Dusk Network has made a clear mark among privacy coins due to contrasting behaviors among whales. DUSK has increased nearly 200% over the past 30 days, possibly driven by FOMO among investors after missing out on strong rallies of DASH and XMR. However, in the last 7 days, DUSK has corrected over 38%, creating a deep divide among holders.

On-chain data shows smaller whales are reducing their exposure, while large whales are taking advantage of the dip to accumulate. Standard whale addresses have decreased holdings by 7.22%, but the top 100 addresses have increased their holdings by 13.88%, totaling 464.44 million DUSK—about 56.6 million DUSK bought, worth approximately $8.2 million.

DUSK Whales | Source: NansenFrom a technical perspective, DUSK is forming a potential “inverse head and shoulders” pattern, but the neckline slopes downward, making a breakout more difficult. The key resistance zone is between $0.176 and $0.190. If the price closes above $0.190, the pattern will be confirmed, opening potential gains of up to 68%, targeting $0.321–$0.330.

Momentum signals, though early, are improving. From 1/24 to 1/28, the price has been attempting to form a higher low, while RSI has formed a lower low—indicating a hidden bullish divergence. However, this structure remains valid only if the price stays above $0.140. Falling below this level would invalidate the positive signals and increase the risk of a sharp decline toward $0.098.

DUSK Price Analysis | Source: TradingView In summary, privacy coin whales have divergent views on DUSK. Smaller groups are reducing risk after the correction, while mega whales are buying during weakness, hoping for a neckline breakout. Until the price recovers above $0.190, this remains a high-risk setup with no clear trend confirmation.

COTI: Whales cautious amid correction

COTI is quietly entering a strong correction phase. The token has fallen about 22% over the past month and 14% in the last 7 days, indicating prolonged selling pressure within a downtrend channel. However, whale behavior suggests the selling phase may be slowing.

Since 1/13, COTI whales have sharply reduced holdings from 733.46 million to 718.17 million—coinciding with a potential breakdown in the downtrend channel.

COTI whales are selling off | Source: SantimentHowever, from 1/22, whales began buying again, increasing holdings to 719.1 million COTI—an addition of about 930,000 COTI. Although this buy-in is modest compared to previous sell-offs, it indicates early positioning rather than absolute confidence.

Source: SantimentCOTI price chart explains whales’ cautious stance. COTI remains in a downtrend channel, but momentum is starting to shift. From 11/4 to 1/25, the price made lower lows, while RSI formed higher lows— a hidden bullish divergence often signaling waning selling pressure, even if the price hasn’t reversed yet. This is a common precursor to trend reversal.

COTI Price Analysis | Source: TradingView For this signal to be meaningful, key levels must be surpassed. Closing above $0.019 is the first challenge. If successful, the price could recover to $0.024—about a 40% increase, erasing the downtrend structure. Conversely, falling below $0.015 would prolong the risk of further decline.

In conclusion, 2026 is opening a challenging phase for privacy coins. Changes in whale behavior combined with key technical signals will be crucial in determining the next market trend. Investors should pay close attention to critical price zones and large capital movements to make informed decisions.