OG coin remains compressed between $66K and $72K, with steady positioning increasing the odds of a sharp breakout move.
Bitcoin is rotating within a defined bracket, and pressure is building. Sellers keep rejecting moves near $72,000, while buyers defend the $66,000 area. According to analyst DaanCrypto, this compression phase could soon lead to a strong momentum move.
BTC Enters Volatility Squeeze Phase With Breakout in Sight
Bitcoin is trading within a narrowing range, with the price failing near $71,000–$72,000. This shows sellers are actively defending that area. At the same time, dips toward $66,000–$67,000 continue to attract buyers, preventing a deeper drop.
Because highs are getting lower and lows are getting higher, price swings are shrinking. That pattern usually signals volatility compression, meaning the market is coiling up.
Rallies are losing strength a bit earlier each time, while sell-offs are being absorbed near support. In addition, volume has declined during this sideways move, which suggests traders are waiting for a clear breakout before committing heavily.
Looking at the BTC chart, volatility indicators confirm the slowdown as Bollinger Bands have tightened compared to early February. When the bands narrow, it means the price is moving less aggressively.
Image Source: TradingView
Bitcoin is trading near the middle and lower end of the band range. The middle line sits near $66,800, with the upper band around $67,700 and the lower band near $65,800. Tighter bands usually signal that the price is compressing before a larger move. Recent sharp swings have cooled after the earlier liquidation event.
On the other hand, derivative data indicate that positioning remains controlled. Total open interest sits at 664,700 BTC, roughly $44.16 billion. Open interest declined 0.12% on the 1-hour timeframe.
Meanwhile, it rose 0.40% on the 4-hour and 0.15% over 24 hours. These changes are small, meaning traders are not aggressively adding new positions.
Bitcoin Tests Patience Inside Critical Price Bracket
The lack of aggressive open interest growth during compression suggests that leverage is not crowded. That reduces immediate squeeze pressure in either direction. However, a breakout supported by rising volume and expanding open interest could produce stronger continuation.
According to DaanCrypto, Bitcoin has been trading between $66,000 and $72,000 for some time. When price stays in a tight range like this, pressure builds. As such, the longer it moves sideways, the odds of a meaningful expansion move increase.
$BTC Chopping around. Lower highs and higher lows.
Eventually this compression will lead to a breakout. The longer we spend in this area, the larger the breakout will be.
It doesn’t hurt to patiently wait for confirmation of that break and then hopping on to the momentum which… pic.twitter.com/cogVHF5QPO
— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) February 18, 2026
Based on recent volatility patterns, a breakout could lead to a 5%-10% move in either direction. A clear move above $72,000 would favor buyers and suggest upside continuation. A drop below $66,000 would return control to sellers and open the door to further downside.
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