On February 13, 2026, from 15:00 to 15:15 (UTC), ETH gained 1.49% in just 15 minutes, with the price rising from approximately $2,017.15 to $2,047.23. Market volatility was evident, with trading activity and attention levels increasing in tandem, reflecting the rapid impact of structural capital flows on short-term price movements.
The primary driver of this movement was sustained inflows into ETH ETFs, resonating with the simultaneous expansion of on-chain stablecoin supplies. Data shows that ETH ETF holdings have reached 5.44% of circulating supply, with an annualized growth of 4.1% since early 2026, continuously attracting institutional capital. Meanwhile, USDC supply has nearly doubled year-over-year, and emerging stablecoins like Ethena USDe have seen significant expansion. During the 15:00–15:15 window, on-chain stablecoin balances increased noticeably, effectively boosting ETH buying pressure.
Additionally, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) continued to surpass centralized platforms in trading volume, intensifying short-term price discovery and liquidity migration. Active on-chain trading of perpetual contracts on DEXs and leveraged chasing amplified price elasticity. Within this 15-minute window, on-chain data showed increased interaction with DeFi protocols and NFT trading demand, along with rising RWA asset locking and higher ecosystem user activity. Coupled with macroeconomic expectations of Federal Reserve easing policies and inflows of institutional funds, market sentiment remained optimistic. Multiple factors resonated to push ETH higher in the short term.
Although ETH’s current volatility range is likely to maintain an upward trend, the behavior of high-leverage funds and ongoing liquidity shifts also pose hidden risks. Investors should monitor on-chain stablecoin movements, ETF capital flows, DEX liquidity changes, and DeFi protocol data; additionally, closely watch macro policy developments and key technical support levels. With short-term risks and volatility increasing, it is advisable to stay attentive to real-time market data and on-chain signals, and remain cautious of potential sentiment reversals that could trigger price corrections.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
PengoPay Launches Multi-Chain Stablecoin Payment Platform for Ethereum and Solana
_PengoPay launches a multi-chain stablecoin payment platform supporting Ethereum and Solana, offering secure crypto payments, invoices, and global settlements._
The global crypto payments sector is expanding as new infrastructure platforms enter the market. Recently, a new stablecoin payment
LiveBTCNews49m ago
Crypto Market Struggles as Bitcoin and Ethereum Post Weak Q1 2026 Performance
_Bitcoin and Ethereum recorded one of their weakest first quarters in history during 2026, reflecting falling liquidity and rising global uncertainty._
The global crypto market faced strong pressure during the first quarter of 2026. Major cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum displayed an
LiveBTCNews1h ago
Strawmap Unpacked — Vitalik Buterin Breaks Down Ethereum’s Push for Faster UX on Layer 1
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin outlined an ambitious, years-long plan to make the Ethereum base layer faster, leaner, and eventually quantum-resistant, starting with shorter slot times and near-instant finality.
Ethereum’s 2029 Vision: Fast Slots, Fast Finality and STARK-Friendly Hashes
In a
Coinpedia1h ago
Whale Trader Pension-usdt.eth Secures $466K Profit After Surviving a $3.3M Bitcoin Drawdown
The cryptocurrency market is an unpredictable place where political developments can create rapid price changes that lead to an immediate loss of value or a sudden increase in value. One recent tale of market manipulation is that of “pension-usdt.eth”, an individual who has made a major profit
BlockChainReporter1h ago
South Korea's National Tax Service accidentally exposed wallet seed phrases, leading to the instant theft of $4.8 million in crypto assets
South Korea's National Tax Service unexpectedly disclosed the 12-word seed phrase for a cryptocurrency wallet, resulting in approximately $4.8 million worth of digital assets being stolen within a few hours. This incident has raised cybersecurity alerts and exposed government negligence in managing crypto assets. Authorities have launched an investigation. This is the third related incident in nearly three months, highlighting operational risks within the government.
ChainNewsAbmedia1h ago
Ethereum Foundation Announces "Long-Term Development Roadmap": 7 Hard Forks in 4 Years, Focused on 5 Major Goals
The Ethereum Foundation announced the "Strawmap" long-term development plan, which is scheduled to undergo 7 hard forks before 2029, achieving 5 major goals to improve transaction speed and network throughput. The development plan includes shortening the final transaction confirmation time to 8 seconds, introducing post-quantum cryptography and privacy protection, aiming to prepare for future increased user demand.
区块客3h ago