Despite Trump’s 15% Tariff Bombshell, Bitcoin Remains Unshaken—Why Is the Market Unfazed?

▲ Trump, Tariffs, Bitcoin/ChatGPT-generated image ©

The cryptocurrency market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, showing little sign of turbulence even after U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly unveiled a sweeping 15% global tariff increase.

According to crypto media outlet Bitcoinist on February 22 (local time), Bitcoin (BTC), the market leader, hovered around the $68,000 level and maintained stability immediately following Trump’s announcement. Ethereum (ETH) also saw minimal price movement, while other smaller-cap altcoins recorded declines of less than 1%. Although the market experienced a brief fluctuation right after the announcement, it quickly regained stability, suggesting the tariff shock was short-lived.

The tariff hike came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to limit the president’s broad authority to impose comprehensive import tariffs. Through his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump declared an immediate 15% tariff on countries he claimed had taken advantage of the United States for decades. However, legal experts note that the measure appears to be temporary in nature, applicable for up to 150 days and capped at 15% for countries with trade deficits, making it unlikely to become a permanent tax increase.

Investors largely seem to be treating the announcement as a one-off headline event rather than a long-term economic shock. No sustained selling pressure has been observed in the market. On the contrary, many analysts believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to curb the administration’s emergency powers has alleviated some of the uncertainty that had been weighing on markets.

Nevertheless, a comprehensive tariff hike carries risks, including increased costs for businesses and consumers, as well as potential diplomatic and legal backlash from global trade partners. Foreign leaders and industry groups have issued immediate criticism, warning of slowed economic growth and rising inflation.

For now, the tariff action is being interpreted less as a liquidity-draining shockwave and more as a political gesture with limited market impact. Unless the White House aggressively expands its temporary authority or significantly broadens the list of targeted countries, crypto investors are expected to maintain a wait-and-see approach while monitoring price movements.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin is trading at $67,439 as of press time, down 1.32% over the past 24 hours.

*Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and we are not responsible for any investment losses resulting from reliance on this content. The information should not be construed as investment advice.*