Bitcoin briefly fell below the $65,000 level during Asian trading on Monday and remained under pressure as large cryptocurrency holders continued to sell, amid rising uncertainty over US trade policy that weakened overall risk appetite.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped 4% to $65,296.8 by 01:30 ET (06:30 GMT), after falling as low as $64,384.2 in the previous 24 hours. The currency returned close to the lows recorded in early February, when it briefly broke below the $60,000 level.

Other cryptocurrencies also declined broadly, with Ethereum coming under notable pressure after reports showed its founder, Vitalik Buterin, selling more of his holdings.

Whale selling weighs on Bitcoin as risk appetite weakens

On-chain data from CryptoQuant showed increased Bitcoin inflows from large private wallets — known in the industry as “whales” — to major exchanges, likely signaling further selling activity.

The term “whales” refers to entities holding large amounts of Bitcoin, often including early investors, institutional players, or digital asset funds, whose movements can significantly influence short-term price action when holdings are moved onto exchanges.

Transfers of coins to exchanges are generally seen as a signal of intent to sell and tend to increase price pressure on Bitcoin by boosting tradable supply.

At the same time, there appeared to be a lack of large-scale buying across most crypto platforms, with sentiment remaining weak after the sharp losses recorded in recent months.

Tariff escalation adds pressure

Renewed turbulence in US trade policy added to the negative trend. The US Supreme Court last week struck down a large part of the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, ruling that he had exceeded his authority in imposing duties on key trading partners.

Trump later announced a new global tariff of 10% on imports for 150 days, before raising it to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, triggering fresh market disruption.

The tariff escalation weighed on equities and risk-sensitive assets during Asian trading on Monday, as investors worried that higher trade barriers could slow global growth and reduce liquidity — factors that typically pressure cryptocurrencies.

Altcoins decline as Buterin sales pressure Ethereum

Other major cryptocurrencies also posted sharp declines, with Ethereum facing renewed pressure after reports indicated that Buterin had sold additional holdings.

Ethereum fell around 5% to $1,878.63, returning close to its early-February lows.

Data showed that Buterin sold at least 1,694 Ether worth $3.3 million over the weekend. Although this remains a small portion of his total holdings, it raised concerns over further whale-related selling pressure on the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency.

Among other altcoins, XRP, Solana, Cardano, and BNB declined between 3% and 8%.

In the meme-coin category, Dogecoin fell 2.9%, while the $TRUMP token lost around 3.4%.

US economic data released on Friday added to cautious sentiment, as gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 1.4% in the fourth quarter, reflecting slower growth, while the personal consumption expenditures price index remained elevated at 2.9% year-on-year.

Persistently high inflation alongside slowing growth has complicated expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, reducing bets on near-term monetary easing this year.

Oil prices were steady on Monday as the United States and Iran prepared to hold a third round of nuclear talks, easing fears of a potential conflict and partly offsetting economic uncertainty following the latest tariff measures announced by US President Donald Trump.

Brent crude futures fell by 4 cents to $71.72 per barrel by 12:00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude declined by 4 cents to $66.44 per barrel.

Growing concerns over a possible military conflict between the United States and Iran had pushed Brent and WTI prices up by more than 5% last week, with Brent remaining close to six-month highs.

Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said that with the next — and possibly final — round of Iranian nuclear talks not taking place until Thursday, attention is shifting toward the US Supreme Court’s decision to cancel import tariffs and the subsequent government response.

US Customs and Border Protection said it would suspend collection of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (05:01 GMT) on Tuesday.

However, Trump said on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on US imports from all countries, the maximum level allowed under the law, after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.

Varga added that the weakness seen earlier in the day was a defensive move. He noted that with uncertainty continuing over possible US military intervention in Iran, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and now the US Supreme Court ruling, the direction of oil prices remains unclear, though volatility is guaranteed.

Iran indicated it is prepared to make concessions regarding its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, a senior Iranian official told Reuters ahead of the third round of nuclear talks between the two countries scheduled for Thursday.

In a research note, Morgan Stanley analysts said that despite higher prices in paper markets, the decline in spot differentials and weakness in physical market spreads suggest that pricing is being driven more by geopolitical concerns than by an actual supply shortage in the market.

The US dollar declined on Monday after the US Supreme Court issued a ruling canceling the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, triggering a new wave of policy uncertainty that was further amplified by concerns over a potential conflict with Iran.

The euro rose 0.2% against the dollar to $1.1808, while the British pound gained 0.3% to $1.3519. The dollar also fell 0.2% against the Japanese yen to 154.745 yen.

Brian Levitt, Global Market Strategist at Invesco, said that these initial moves appear to be rapid reactions to headlines rather than genuine signals of fundamental changes in the global economic landscape.

He added that the market’s initial reaction to the ruling could ultimately prove short-lived, given that several pathways remain available to keep tariffs in place.

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing broad tariffs, prompting him to criticize the court and announce a uniform 15% tariff on imports.

He also insisted that trade agreements involving higher tariffs with trading partners should remain in effect.

This uncertainty is expected to further complicate an already volatile foreign exchange environment, as traders navigate shifting interest rate expectations and escalating geopolitical tensions.

The alternative tariffs announced by Trump are set to remain in place for 150 days, and it remains unclear whether the United States must refund tariffs already paid by importers. The Supreme Court did not address this issue in its ruling.

Analysts expect years of litigation and a fresh round of uncertainty that could limit economic activity, as Trump seeks other methods to reimpose global tariffs more permanently.

On Sunday, the European Commission called on the United States to honor an agreement reached last year with the European Union that included zero tariffs on certain products such as aircraft and spare parts.

US trading partners in Asia were also studying the new uncertainty, similar to investors who had previously been surprised by market reactions to Trump’s trade tariffs — which, coincidentally, failed to reduce the US trade deficit.

Investors monitor Middle East tensions

The risk of a military conflict between the United States and Iran has added another layer of uncertainty to financial markets.

Although the two long-time rivals are scheduled to hold a third round of talks on Thursday regarding their nuclear dispute, Trump has ordered a major military buildup in the Middle East.

Goldman Sachs analysts wrote that rising tensions in the Middle East have revived questions about geopolitical hedging tools and the impact of commodity price shocks on currency markets.

Iran is among the world’s largest oil producers, and any military strikes against it would likely have repercussions across crude markets. A potential conflict could also disrupt shipping routes, as Tehran has previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil flows pass.

Goldman Sachs analysts noted that the Swiss franc remains their preferred hedge against inflation. The franc rose 0.3% to 0.7736 against the dollar.

Silver prices rose in European trading on Monday at the start of the week, extending gains for a fourth consecutive day and reaching their highest level in three weeks, supported by strong safe-haven demand amid concerns linked to the turbulence surrounding Trump’s tariff policy, particularly after the historic ruling by the US Supreme Court.

The rise was also supported by a weaker US dollar in foreign exchange markets after Trump decided to raise tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that could signal renewed escalation in global trade tensions.

Price Overview

Silver prices today: silver rose by 3.8% to $87.84, the highest level since February 5, up from the opening level of $84.61, while recording a session low of $84.61.

At Friday’s settlement, silver prices gained 7.7%, marking a third consecutive daily gain following the historic US Supreme Court ruling.

The white metal rose 9.3% last week, marking its first weekly gain in a month, amid improved investment demand for precious metals.

US dollar

The dollar index fell by 0.45% on Monday, extending losses for a second consecutive session and moving away from a one-month high, reflecting continued weakness in the US currency against a basket of major and secondary currencies.

Beyond profit-taking activity, the US dollar declined following the historic decision to cancel the broad tariffs previously imposed by Donald Trump.

Sim Moh Siong, currency strategist at OCBC Bank in Singapore, said the ruling weakens the dollar, as it could benefit economic growth outside the United States.

Siong added that the long-term foreign exchange implications are less clear, as lower US revenues may weigh on the fiscal position and the dollar, while limiting Trump’s authority could be viewed positively by reducing one source of trade policy volatility.

Historic ruling

The US Supreme Court issued a historic ruling on Friday, February 20, 2026, invalidating the broad tariffs previously imposed by the Trump administration, arguing that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose those tariffs exceeded the legal authority granted to the president.

In a swift response, Trump announced on Saturday, February 21, 2026, an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15%, with implementation set to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

This time, Trump relied on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose temporary tariffs for up to 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits without immediate congressional approval.

The Supreme Court ruling has raised major legal questions over whether companies that paid billions of dollars under the previous system, now deemed illegal, will receive compensation, a process that could take years in court.

US interest rates

According to the CME Group FedWatch tool, pricing for keeping US interest rates unchanged at the March meeting remains stable at 96%, while the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut stands at 4%.

To reprice these expectations, investors are closely monitoring the release of additional US economic data, as well as comments from Federal Reserve officials.

Reports indicate that the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs is casting uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path following a year of market turbulence.