Trump Hikes Tariffs to 15%, But Bitcoin Barely Blinks

When President Trump defied the Supreme Court and cranked global tariffs up to 15%, Bitcoin's response was... a yawn. The world's largest cryptocurrency dipped just 1% before settling back near $68,000. For a market once famous for wild swings on trade news, this calm is remarkable.

Court Says No, Trump Says Yes Anyway

The drama started with the Supreme Court striking down Trump's earlier tariff actions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The justices essentially told the president he'd overstepped his authority.

Trump's response? Double down. He called the court decision "anti-American" and immediately announced he was raising the previously planned 10% worldwide tariff to 15%. On Truth Social, he promised to "determine and issue new and legally permissible tariffs" in the coming months.

It's a constitutional showdown wrapped in trade policy, with global markets caught in the middle.

Bitcoin's Surprising Zen Mode

Here's what's fascinating: Bitcoin barely flinched. After Trump's post, BTC saw a brief 0.5% uptick, then fell nearly 1%, before stabilizing. Ether dropped 0.45% and called it a day.

Rewind to 2018-2019, and the story was different. During the last trade war, Bitcoin would swing 10-20% on tariff announcements, acting more like a tech stock than digital gold. Investors couldn't figure out if crypto was a safe haven or a risk asset.

Now? The market seems to have made up its mind.

What Changed the Game

Several forces are reshaping how crypto responds to macro events. First, institutional money has flooded in. BlackRock, Fidelity, and other giants now hold billions in Bitcoin through ETFs, providing a stabilizing anchor.

Second, the narrative around Bitcoin has evolved. It's less "internet magic money" and more "digital store of value." If tariffs drive inflation higher, that could actually benefit Bitcoin as an inflation hedge.

Third, there's the Trump factor itself. Despite hiking tariffs, he's promised crypto-friendly policies. The market seems to be betting that regulatory relief will outweigh trade tensions.

Winners and Losers in the New Reality

The muted crypto response masks bigger economic shifts. Traditional exporters face headwinds, while dollar-denominated assets like Bitcoin could benefit from currency effects.

For retail investors, this presents a puzzle. If Bitcoin no longer moves on trade news, what will drive its next major move? The answer might lie in factors entirely outside traditional economics – regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, or technological breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, prediction markets are already pricing in more tariff escalation. Some traders are using AI-powered bots to exploit tiny arbitrage opportunities in crypto prediction markets, netting thousands on each trade war twist.