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Bitcoin’s 12% Surge: Short Squeeze or Temporary Relief Rally?

Bitcoin climbs 12% from its Friday low, driven by short‑covering and a narrowing Coinbase premium. Experts weigh in on whether the bounce is sustainable amid macro headwinds.
9 February 2026 by
TechStora Editorial Board

Market Snapshot

Bitcoin rose 12% from Friday’s low of $62,822 to $70,998, according to CoinGecko.

The Coinbase Premium index improved from –0.23% to –0.06%, a 70% gain, indicating a narrowing price gap between Coinbase and Binance.

Derivatives Metrics Reveal Short‑Covering

Open interest fell while cumulative volume delta turned positive, a pattern that typically signals traders are closing short positions rather than opening new longs.

A short squeeze occurs when short sellers buy back Bitcoin to limit losses, adding buying pressure to the market.

Expert Takeaways

  • Adziima (Bitrue) – Calls the move a “post‑crash dead‑cat bounce” with no sustainable demand yet.
  • Nick Ruck (LVRG Research) – Optimistic about a rebound if institutional adoption and friendly regulation grow.
  • Yoon – Says a true trend reversal requires nation‑state reserves treating Bitcoin as a gold alternative.
  • Jeff Mei (BTSE) – Attributes falling open interest to deleveraging after the crash.

Macro Environment

Asian equities rallied after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide win, lifting the Nikkei 225 by 5% and easing regional risk‑off pressure.

Tech‑company earnings pressure on risk assets has subsided, which could reduce overhead stress on crypto markets.

Outlook

Analysts view the bounce as technically driven. A lasting uptrend will likely depend on structural demand, regulatory clarity, and institutional participation.