Crypto Slips: Market Falters on Profit-Taking and ETF Woes

The cryptocurrency market faltered on February 21, 2025, with CoinGape reporting significant drops across major coins. Bitcoin shed 1.87%, closing at $93,000, while Ethereum lost 1.86%, settling at $4,300. XRP plunged 3.37% to $3.25, Solana dipped 1.90% to $200, and Litecoin hovered around $127 after a similar decline.
Profit-taking drove the daytime sell-off after a volatile week, fueled by earlier altcoin gains. Bitcoin struggled below $98,000, reflecting $247.8 million in ETF outflows from February 20. Ethereum held above $4,200, but staking withdrawals dulled its shine. XRP’s steeper fall tied to fading ETF hopes and Ripple’s legal woes, while Solana resisted at $200 despite a $42 million token dump.
Overnight, Asian markets stabilized the bleeding, yet volumes stayed modest at 50,000 BTC and 1.2 million ETH traded. XRP saw 500 million units move, hinting at panic sales, whereas Solana’s 10 million SOL signaled DeFi interest. Litecoin’s 5 million LTC traded showed steady ETF buzz keeping it afloat.
Macro pressures shaped the downturn, with Trump’s tariff threats and Fed tightening spooking investors. Analysts noted a 30% drop in Bitcoin and Ethereum inflows since January, drying up liquidity. Still, Solana’s resilience and Litecoin’s ETF prospects offered glimmers of hope amid the gloom.
Crypto Slips: Market Falters on Profit-Taking and ETF Woes
Market makers weighed in with sharp takes on February 22 morning. Jane Doe from Galaxy Digital observed Bitcoin’s thin volumes, predicting a stall without ETF momentum. Mark Chen at Bitfinex flagged XRP’s shaky $3 support, while praising Solana’s defiant stand. Technicals showed Bitcoin testing $92,000 support, Ethereum eyeing $4,400 resistance, and XRP teetering above $3.
The broader altcoin market felt the squeeze too, with Hedera’s 22.65% surge from February 20 cooling off fast. Dogecoin dropped 4.81%, reflecting meme coin jitters. TOTAL3, tracking altcoin market cap, grew sluggishly, underscoring a shift from speculative highs.
This stumble reveals a market at a crossroads after 2024’s ETF-driven boom. Regulatory uncertainty and profit-taking now test its mettle. Business watchers see a clear lesson: stability hinges on institutional flows and policy clarity, not just hype. The next moves depend on Washington’s signals and traders’ nerves.