Bitcoin Holds $90k as Tariff Ruling Delay Eases Jitters

Bitcoin was trading near the $90,000 mark on Friday, finding stability after the U.S. Supreme Court delayed a key decision on Donald Trump's tariff policies, temporarily calming macroeconomic uncertainty across markets.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin's price stood at approximately $90,443, reflecting a 1% decline over the past 24 hours. Daily trading volume reached about $45 billion, while its total market capitalization fell slightly to $1.80 trillion.

Figure 1: Bitcoin's recent price chart shows tight consolidation around the $90,800 level, reacting to macroeconomic developments.

Despite the minor drop, the asset remains in a tight trading range. It is currently trading about 2% below its seven-day high of $91,839 and just 1% above its seven-day low of $89,671. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's circulating supply has reached 19,973,659 BTC, moving ever closer to its hard cap of 21 million coins—a core feature supporting its long-term value proposition.

Macro News Steadies BTC Price Above $90,000

Crypto markets initially showed signs of weakness this week as traders braced for a potential Supreme Court ruling on the legality of Trump-era global tariffs. The decision was widely seen as a major catalyst for broader market movements.

However, prices recovered on Friday after the court announced it would delay its ruling until the following week. This postponement reduced the immediate risk of market disruption, providing a lift to equities, bonds, and digital assets.

Analysts noted that the delay specifically eased concerns over a scenario where the U.S. Treasury might have to refund over $130 billion to importers if the tariffs were deemed illegal. Such an event could have created significant fiscal disruption.

The market's reaction underscores Bitcoin's growing sensitivity to macroeconomic factors, including shifts in policy expectations, liquidity conditions, and geopolitical events. While long-term adoption trends remain a primary driver, major legal and political developments continue to heavily influence its short-term price action.

Technical Outlook: Bitcoin Consolidates After January Rally

Bitcoin's current price stability represents a cooling-off period following a surge in the opening days of the year. That early-January rally boosted bullish sentiment but eventually met resistance, triggering a round of profit-taking that stalled its momentum.

From a technical perspective, traders are closely watching the $90,000–$91,000 zone as a critical area of support.

• A sustained break below this level could open the door to further downside, potentially pushing the price toward the high-$80,000 range.

• Conversely, a decisive move back above $92,000 would signal renewed strength and likely clear a path toward higher resistance levels.

For now, Bitcoin remains locked in a consolidation pattern, with compressed volatility as traders await a new catalyst to dictate the next major move.

Could the U.S. Government Become a Major Bitcoin Buyer?

Looking ahead, Cathie Wood of ARK Invest recently suggested that political dynamics could lead the U.S. government to begin actively purchasing Bitcoin by 2026. In a podcast, Wood argued that cryptocurrency has become an important political issue for President Trump, which could shape future policy.

While the United States currently holds a Bitcoin reserve composed of seized assets, Trump has pledged not to sell any of it. Wood believes the administration's stance could evolve from merely holding confiscated coins to making outright purchases for a national strategic reserve. She noted that the original goal was to acquire one million BTC.

Crypto has also grown into an organized political force, supporting Trump and engaging with the White House through donations and events. This growing influence, combined with executive orders that have already established a reserve and stockpile, sets the stage for a potential policy shift.

Wood sees direct government purchases as a potential market inflection point. With nearly 20 million of the total 21 million BTC already mined, U.S. government buying would introduce a massive new source of demand, likely having a significant positive impact on the Bitcoin price.

As of the time of writing, Bitcoin is priced at $90,814.