Crypto markets rallied sharply on February 20, 2026, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate President Donald Trump’s broad tariff regime. Bitcoin rose 1.75% almost immediately, reaching approximately $67,769. The ruling removes the authority for sweeping global tariffs previously enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Several leading cryptocurrencies posted strong gains in the wake of the news. Ethereum climbed more than 2% to around $1,960. Solana surged over 4% to $84, while XRP, popular among retail traders, increased 1.55% to $1.42. The positive momentum extended beyond spot prices into related assets.
Crypto-linked equities also benefited from the development. Fold, focused on Bitcoin infrastructure, led gains with an increase of over 4.6%. Coinbase, widely regarded as an industry indicator, rose 3.52% to $171.78 at the time of reporting.
Analysts highlighted potential benefits for risk assets like stocks and cryptocurrencies. Stephen Coltman, Head of Macro at 21shares, explained that a negative outcome on tariffs could pressure U.S. Treasuries and the dollar while supporting equities and crypto. He added that Bitcoin had been consolidating between $65,000 and $70,000 recently, with bulls aiming to defend $65,000 as support and a breakout above $70,000 signaling renewed strength.
Matthew Sigel, Head of Research at VanEck, pointed out that lower tariff revenues would likely accelerate money printing and currency debasement. Bitcoin is frequently viewed as a hedge against such inflationary U.S. monetary policies. According to estimates from the Cato Institute, about 60% of total tariff revenue in 2025 came from measures imposed via IEEPA, meaning the ruling could significantly alter fiscal dynamics in ways that favor decentralized assets.
