Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped 2.2% on Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026, to trade at about $66,446 at press time. The flagship coin saw its fear-and-greed index drop to 12/100, which CoinMarketCap classifies as extreme fear.
Source: CoinMarketCap
Eric Trump, Brian Armstrong, and Arthur Hayes Predict Bitcoin Rebound
Eric Trump says Bitcoin could reach the $1 million mark in 2026. Speaking at the World Liberty Financial (WLF) forum held today in Palm Beach, Eric, the son of President Donald Trump, said that despite recent volatility, he remains bullish on Bitcoin.
“I do think it hits $1 million…You’re going to have volatility with something that has tremendous upside,” Eric stated.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong echoed similar sentiments. He sees the recent Bitcoin surge as a product of psychological factors rather than fundamental ones.
Speaking at the same forum, Armstrong stated that uncertainty regarding quantum computers and Fed leadership has fueled crypto fear. Still, Coinbase will continue accumulating Bitcoin for long-term gains. BTC has also been the best-performing asset of the past decade, according to Coinbase.
Mirroring these observations is Arthur Hayes, the co-founder and former CEO of BitMEX. In a Substack essay, Hayes expressed indifference to Bitcoin’s 50% drop from $126,000 to under $65,000, casually noting, “This is Fine.”
While not as bullish as Eric, Hayes is confident the BTC price could surge to $500,000-$750,000 by year’s end. In a theory dubbed “fiat liquidity fire alarm”, Hayes explains that massive AI-driven layoffs and heightened tariffs could trigger a bailout by the feds to avert a 2008 economic crisis in 2026. Quantitative easing would raise liquidity levels, effectively pushing Bitcoin to a new all-time high.
Bigger Market picture
The midterm BTC price outlook will be heavily affected by the global liquidity rotation. Other significant upcoming events that could impact Bitcoin’s volatility include the changes in Federal Reserve leadership and the passage of the Clarity Act.
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