Bitcoin Multi-Year Lifeline Faces Critical Test as Supreme Court Weighs Trump’s Tariffs | US Crypto News

Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefingyour essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead. Grab a coffee. Bitcoins multi-year lifeline is on the linenot because of anything it did, but because of decisions being made in a courtroom far from Wall Street. Crypto News of the Day: Supreme Court Ruling on Trumps Tariffs Poised to Shake Markets and Bitcoin Bitcoin and risk assets in general face heightened volatility on February 20, 2026, as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to issue its long-awaited ruling on the legality of President Trumps 2025 tariffs. The decision, expected at 10:00 AM ET（UTC+8）, could have sweeping implications for trade, government revenue, and global markets. The case, consolidated as Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., challenges whether Trump had the legal authority to impose broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. While IEEPA allows the President to address unusual and extraordinary threats to national security or the economy, it does not explicitly authorize sweeping trade tariffs. Lower courts have twice ruled against the administration, setting the stage for the Supreme Courts opinion. Prediction markets suggest a high likelihood of illegality, with Polymarket pricing roughly a 26% chance that the Supreme Court will uphold the tariffs. Odds of the Supreme Court Ruling in Favor of Trumps Tariffs. Source: Polymarket The odds are almost identical on prediction market Kalshi, where bettors wager on a 25.7% chance that the court rules in favor of Trumps tariffs. Notably, crowd bets on Kalshi are gaining more authority of late. Odds of the Supreme Court Ruling in Favor of Trumps Tariffs. Source: Kalshi If upheld, tariffs would remain in place, potentially escalating trade tensions with Canada, the EU, China, and other partners. If struck down, importers could be entitled to refunds of duties collected since early 2025. The $600 Billion Tariff Claim: Reality vs. Hype Notably, some media and crypto commentators have cited Trumps repeated claim that his tariffs generated $600 billion in revenue. However, neutral analyses, including the Penn-Wharton Budget Model, place the actual exposure at $133$179 billion, a fraction of the widely referenced figure. Notwithstanding, even at these lower levels, the financial impact could ripple through markets, with traders anticipating pure chaos as markets price in: Potential refunds Emergency replacement tariffs, and Retaliatory actions from trade partners. 🚨 THE NEXT 24 HOURS WILL BE THE WORST TIME OF 2026!!Polymarket is pricing a 74% chance the Supreme Court rules Trumps tariffs illegal TODAY.USChina tariffs cancelledUSEU tariffs cancelledUSCanada tariffs cancelledAnd this is the part nobody tells you about: https://t.co/jcpCdYTvX5 pic.twitter.com/CfxfObqO0w 0xNobler (@CryptoNobler) February 20, 2026 Crypto, equities, and bond markets are all expected to experience turbulence, with liquidity swings and risk-off sentiment particularly affecting Bitcoin in the short term. BTCs market capitalization was $1.35 trillion, with prices trading for $67,445 as of this writing. Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto A Perfect Storm: Supreme Court Ruling Meets Key Economic Data The timing of the Supreme Court ruling coincides with other key US economic data releases, including Q4 GDP, the PCE Price Index, and the Manufacturing PMI. These may amplify market volatility. BIG DAY FOR THE MARKETS 🚨❶ US Q4 GDP data at 8:30am ET（UTC+8）Expectations: 3%❷ PCE Price Index at 8:30am ET（UTC+8）Expectations: 2.8%❸ Manufacturing PMI at 9:45am ET（UTC+8）Expectations: 52.6Along with this, the Supreme Court tariffs ruling will also happen today at 10am ET（UTC+8）. pic.twitter.com/YRKZgla49T Max Crypto (@MaxCrypto) February 20, 2026 Meanwhile, the Supreme Courts decision carries broader implications for executive authority and fiscal policy. A ruling against Trump could require the Treasury to process hundreds of billions in refunds, widening deficits and potentially prompting emergency legislation or alternative trade measures. For crypto traders, this translates into a period of elevated uncertainty, in which macro shocks and risk sentiment can drive market swings independent of fundamentals. Whether Bitcoin holds its multi-year lifeline or succumbs to a volatility surge will depend in large part on the legal and economic fallout of this landmark decision. Chart of the Day Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: TradingView Byte-Sized Alpha Heres a summary of more US crypto news to follow today: Metaplanet CEO fires back at critics as $1.2 billion Bitcoin paper losses mount. US spot Bitcoin ETFs post largest cycle drawdown, balances fall by 100,300 BTC. Silver supply crisis looms as Binance hits $70 billion volume in precious metals like gold. Ethereum struggles below $2,000, yet BitMine sees a rebound: Heres what theyre watching. Blue Owl halts redemptions amid private credit stress: Will crypto feel the impact? Bitcoin hashrate shows a V-Shaped recovery Will Bitcoin price follow? CZ networks freely at Mar-a-Lago amid Binances USD1 surge. Crypto Equities Pre-Market Overview CompanyClose As of February 19Pre-Market OverviewStrategy (MSTR)$129.45$130.53 (+0.83%)Coinbase (COIN)$165.94$167.03 (+0.66%)Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY)$21.63$21.54 (-0.42%)MARA Holdings (MARA)$7.96$8.00 (+0.50%)Riot Platforms (RIOT)$16.22$16.20 (-0.12%)Core Scientific (CORZ)$17.98$17.68 (-1.67%)Crypto equities market open race:GoogleFinance Read the article at BeInCrypto