Crypto Market Sheds $730 Billion in 100 Days as Bitcoin and Altcoins Slide

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Highlights:

Crypto market erases over 730 billion dollars in value during just 100 days contraction period.
Bitcoin alone lost $347.9B, falling 21.62% since late November.
Mid and small‑cap altcoins plunged hardest, dropping $122.75B at the fastest pace.

The crypto market has gone through one of its toughest short-term phases in years. In just 100 days, more than $730 billion has been wiped out from the total market value, according to data shared by on-chain analyst GugaOnChain on February 20. The scale and speed of the decline show that this is more than a routine pullback. It reflects a broad shift toward caution, with capital moving out of digital assets.

$730 BILLION GONE IN THE LAST 100 DAYS

In just 100 days, the crypto market has lost over $730 BILLION in value, one of the fastest capital flights in its history.

This isn’t normal volatility. It’s contraction. pic.twitter.com/LDQNZJ742w

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) February 20, 2026

Bitcoin Leads Massive Crypto Sell Off as $730B Leaves the Market

Bitcoin alone has lost nearly $348 billion in market value during this period. On November 22, its market cap stood at about $1.696 trillion. Today, it sits near $1.349 trillion. That marks a drop of 21.62%. As the largest asset in the space, Bitcoin has carried much of the nominal loss, but it has not been the only one under pressure.

The top 20 cryptocurrencies, excluding BTC and stablecoins, have also taken a heavy hit. This group fell from roughly $1.071 trillion in early December to about $810.65 billion. That is a decline of nearly $260 billion, or 15.17%. Even the strongest names outside Bitcoin have struggled to hold their ground.

Mid and small-cap tokens have suffered the most in percentage terms. Their combined market value dropped from $390.38 billion to $267.63 billion. That is a loss of $122.75 billion, equal to a 20.06% fall. These smaller assets are often more volatile, and when investors turn defensive, they tend to sell them first. Altogether, the market has seen $730.59 billion exit in just over three months. The speed of the decline points to a clear risk-off environment, where investors reduce exposure to higher-risk assets.

On-chain indicators show that the contraction is visible across multiple metrics. Market cap comparisons and growth rate gaps between short term and long term averages highlight a cooling trend. Short-term momentum has weakened, and capital inflows have slowed. This does not automatically mean the cycle is over. Crypto has gone through similar sharp pullbacks in the past. However, the numbers confirm that confidence has taken a hit, especially among short-term participants.

Macro Pressure, Whale Moves, and Market Psychology Weigh on Crypto

At the same time, there are also wider economic factors at play. Expectations of interest rate changes, lingering inflation worries, and movements in the stock market have all had their say in crypto trading in recent times. When stocks fall, cryptos tend to fall along with them. Many analysts have pointed out that the relationship between stocks and cryptos is now stronger, meaning that any weakness in traditional stocks is now felt in cryptos almost immediately.

Another factor that has been at play is the large holders, commonly referred to as whales. Whenever the whales move big amounts of tokens, the markets react. Although they may be moving the tokens as part of a rebalancing act, the magnitude of the tokens they move can still influence the markets. The smaller players will be forced to react to the movements.