Bitcoin saw a brief pop on the news but quickly reversed, indicating a weak conviction from the market in this particular catalyst. the supreme court's decision on tariffs is a significant event, but its direct link to bitcoin's value appears to be tenuous, leading to a fleeting market reaction.
The reporting details a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the news and bitcoin's price movement, including specific percentage changes and timing. however, the swift reversal suggests that other market factors or a lack of fundamental connection might be at play, reducing the long-term trustworthiness of this specific price driver.
The price action was characterized by a brief upward movement followed by an immediate decline, resulting in a net neutral short-term impact. this suggests that while the news caused a temporary reaction, it did not fundamentally alter the prevailing market sentiment for bitcoin.
The price impact was immediate but short-lived, with bitcoin returning to its pre-news levels within minutes. this indicates that the market's reaction to the supreme court's tariff decision was a short-term event, and its influence on bitcoin's price trajectory has already dissipated.
Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin pops then drops as Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs As has been typical in crypto markets of late, even the most modest move higher was met with immediate selling. By Krisztian Sandor , Helene Braun | Edited by Stephen Alpher Feb 20, 2026, 3:20 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Donald Trump points at the audience during a press conference at the White House. What to know : The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs. The news quickly sent bitcoin higher by about 2% to above $68,000, but the gains proved fleeting, with BTC quickly returning to the $67,000 level. Earlier Friday, U.S. economic data showed slower than expected economic growth alongside higher than hoped inflation. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Trump's tariff regime in a 6-3 decision. "No President has invoked the statute to impose any tariffs, let alone tariffs of this magnitude and scope," the court ruling said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy . "That lack of historical precedent, coupled with the breadth of authority that the President now claims, suggests that the tariffs extend beyond the President’s 'legitimate reach." Bitcoin knee-jerked about 2% higher on the news, rising past the $68,000 level. As has been typical in crypto lately, though, the gain was reversed within minutes, returning to just below $67,000 at the current time. U.S. stocks also rose on the news, but quickly returned to roughly unchanged on the session. Stagflationary data Earlier Friday, a batch of U.S. economic data showed signs of stagflationary impulses. The U.S. economy grew only a modest 1.4% in the final three months of 2025, the Commerce Department reported. Alongside core personal consumer expenditure prices rose 3% year-over-year, faster than the hoped for 2.9% and up from 2.8% previously. On a yearly basis, the economy grew 2.2%, which is the slowest growth since Covid year 2020. "Today’s economic data delivered a messy message of both hotter than expected inflation, and slower than anticipated growth," Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth, said. "The confusing message from today’s data confirms the current Fed bias to take their time with monetary policy." Bitcoin News Market Wrap U.S. Economy tariff Donald Trump Breaking News More For You Zoomex: Precise Systems of Fairness and Transparency by Design By CoinDesk Jan 31, 2026 Commissioned by Zoomex Read full story More For You What next for XRP as volatility sinks to 2024 lows By Shaurya Malwa 2 hours ago Technical traders see a compression setup, with $1.39 as key support and $1.44 as near-term resistance that could open a move toward $1.50 to $1.62 if reclaimed. What to know : XRP is consolidating around $1.42 as volatility falls to levels last seen before a major 2024 rally, prompting speculation that the current downtrend may be nearing exhaustion. Technical traders see a compression setup, with $1.39 as key support and $1.44 as near-term resistance that could open a move toward $1.50 to $1.62 if reclaimed. With volatility near prior cycle lows, analysts say the timing and direction of the next breakout will likely hinge on how long this low-volatility base-building phase can persist. Read full story Latest Crypto News Goldman Sachs, Franklin Templeton, and Nicki Minaj: Inside Trump’s surreal Mar-a-Lago crypto summit 22 minutes ago CoinDesk 20 performance update: AAVE falls 3.3%, leading index lower 1 hour ago What next for XRP as volatility sinks to 2024 lows 2 hours ago Bitcoin gains, is still 'signficantly undervalued,' Bitwise says. 'Extreme fear' dominates. 3 hours ago Dual South Korean listings send Ethereum layer-2 token AZTEC surging 82% 3 hours ago Panic premium lingers in options even as bitcoin recovers from lows 3 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin logs worst first 50-day start to a year on record 9 hours ago Ripple's Brad Garlinghouse says CLARITY bill has '90% chance' of passing by April 8 hours ago Inside the meeting: White House favors some stablecoin rewards, tells banks it's time to move 16 hours ago Bitcoin difficulty jumps 15% largest increase since 2021, despite price slump 8 hours ago Metaplanet CEO rebuts critics over bitcoin strategy and transparency 9 hours ago Eric Trump reitrates claim bitcoin is just getting started on its road to $1 million 21 hours ago