Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC ) price continued to consolidate near $68,000 on Tuesday, with market dynamics showing a split between seasoned holders and a newer wave of large traders. While the oldest addresses remain comfortably in the black, the latest cohort of whales is confronting material unrealized losses, a pattern that could press the price lower if selling accelerates. In this environment, on-chain metrics point to redistribution rather than awakening capitulation, even as warnings from traders and analysts circulate about the potential for continued downside if momentum deteriorates. At the core of the discussion is the distribution of Bitcoin across wallet cohorts. Wallets holding 1,000–10,000 BTC control 4.483 million BTC in total. Among these, 1.287 million BTC (28.7%) belong to the short-term holder (STH) category, while 3.196 million BTC (71.3%) are held by long-term holders (LTH). The contrast is stark: STH coins carry a realized price of $88,494, which translates into a 22% u...
Kraken has expanded its institutional reach by linking its over-the-counter (OTC) desk to ICE Chat, Intercontinental Exchange's real-time messaging platform used by banks and trading desks. Announced February 17, 2026, the arrangement makes Kraken the first cryptocurrency platform to be approved for ICE Chat, enabling quote requests and negotiations to flow directly within a system that aggregates more than 120,000 market participants. The move positions Kraken's liquidity alongside traditional assets across a familiar workflow, signaling a broader push to incorporate digital assets into mainstream financial-market infrastructure. The OTC desk at Kraken handles large block trades in crypto spot and options, and the partnership with ICE is expected to evolve as institutions look for deeper, more integrated access to crypto liquidity. Key takeaways Kraken's OTC desk is now integrated with ICE Chat, enabling institutional traders to access Kraken's crypto liquidity direc...