Bitcoin Price Is Dropping the Most Since 2022, but Finery Markets Reports Record $1.8B Volume

Bitcoin (BTC) tumbled 18% in February, its steepest monthly drop since early 2022. Yet despite the price slump, market activity remained anything but calm. This volatility created a trading boom for institutional platform Finery Markets, which processed a record $1.8 billion in client transactions last month—a 135% surge from February 2024.

The contrasting metrics highlight how institutional trading volumes can thrive even when cryptocurrency prices struggle.

Institutional Crypto Trading Surges as Finery Markets Reports Record $1.8B Volume

Finery Markets is specializing in non-custodial cryptocurrency electronic communication networks (ECN) and SaaS trading solutions for institutions. And it has reported all-time high trading volumes in the opening months of 2025, highlighting accelerating institutional engagement with digital asset markets.

This record $1.8 billion performance follows January's strong showing of $1.6 billion in client trades, positioning the firm for a really strong first quarter. And this is a quarter in which BTC has so far lost 12% of its value, entering the new year with a significant hangover despite January's all-time highs.

“The performance signals that we're right on track to prove our main belief: that the institutionalization of crypto is inevitable,” said Konstantin Shulga, CEO of Finery Markets. “Market participants are increasingly seeking reliable technology and trading infrastructure to gain exposure to the crypto industry.”

The data reveals particularly strong growth in stablecoin transactions, which surged 152% year-over-year in February alone. This trend suggests stablecoins are increasingly serving as a critical bridge between traditional financial systems and digital asset markets.

The 2024 results are certainly fueling positive forecasts, as OTC trading volume has increased by over 100% in recent months.

Recently, the company also announced a partnership with Sage Capital Management, which will become the company’s liquidity provider using the quite new trading method, including quote streams via the FIX protocol.

Why Is Bitcoin Going Down?

And as mentioned, record-high volumes are occurring against the backdrop of significant Bitcoin declines. BTC price has fallen sharply in February and March 2025, dropping from a peak of $109,000 in January to around $77,000 this week, as a mix of economic uncertainty and crypto-specific pressures weigh on the market.

Analysts point to global trade tensions, sparked by US President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, as a key driver, fueling fears of inflation and prompting investors to pull back from riskier assets like cryptocurrencies. The broader crypto market has shed nearly half a trillion dollars in value since early February, according to CoinGecko data.

Adding to the downturn, disappointment over Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve plan—initially hyped as a potential boost for Bitcoin—has soured sentiment. The reserve, unveiled in early March, will use existing government-seized Bitcoin rather than new purchases, dashing hopes of fresh capital inflows.

Meanwhile, US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen outflows exceeding $3 billion in February alone, reflecting waning investor confidence. A $1.5 billion hack at the Bybit exchange last month has also rattled nerves, amplifying volatility in an already fragile market.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, has fallen over 50% since the January high to $1,900, hitting its lowest level since 14 months.

Will Bitcoin Fall to $70,000? Experts Say: YES

Although Bitcoin's price is currently holding above the $80,000 level, which appears to act as psychological support, it remains below the 200-day EMA, suggesting that bears have the upper hand. Furthermore, the 50-day EMA is about to cross below the 200-day EMA, forming a long-term sell signal known as a death cross.

Given this setup, analysts and investors are speculating how low Bitcoin might drop. The latest predictions suggest that BTC's price could fall to $70,000, around its November lows. This view is shared and frequently reiterated by Arthur Hayes, the founder and former CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMex.

Earlier this month, he suggested that the first support level was around $75,000. This week, however, he stated that Bitcoin's price would bottom out around $70,000 before starting a new rally.

“Be f***ing patient. BTC likely bottoms around $70k. 36% correction from $110k ATH, very normal for a bull market," Hayes commented bluntly.