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Crypto Market Update Feb 23: BTC and ETH Dips After Trump Tariffs 15%

Crypto Market Update Feb 23: BTC and ETH Dips After Trump Tariffs 15%

Published:
2026-02-23 04:15:00
16
2

Bitcoin and Ethereum stumble as Trump's 15% tariff announcement rattles traditional markets—and crypto follows suit. A classic case of digital assets still dancing to old-world policy tunes.

The Immediate Reaction

Markets hate surprises. The tariff news sliced through equity futures, and the sell-off bled straight into crypto. Bitcoin's dip mirrored the S&P's slide—proof that for all its decentralization talk, crypto still watches the Fed (and the White House) with hawkish eyes.

Why Crypto Cares About Tariffs

It's about liquidity and sentiment. Tariffs threaten inflation, which shifts rate-cut expectations. That tightens the liquidity pool that all risk assets, including BTC and ETH, swim in. Suddenly, holding volatile digital gold feels riskier when traditional safe havens get a second look.

The Silver Lining Play

Every dip is a narrative. Long-term believers see this as noise—a temporary disconnect between crypto's fundamental value and macroeconomic jitters. The 15% headline is a short-term shock, not a protocol flaw. It's a buying opportunity disguised as a panic headline.

The Finance Jab

Watching crypto react to political headlines is like watching a cypherpunk attend a black-tie fundraiser—trying to be rebellious but still checking the dress code. Some things never change, even on the blockchain.

Looking Ahead

The dip won't last. Crypto's underlying adoption curve—institutional infrastructure, ETF flows, real-world utility—steepens regardless of who's in office or what taxes they levy. This is a speed bump on a much longer road. The smart money is already looking past the 15% to the next 150%.

Major Crypto Market Events Today

Major Crypto Market Events Today

Source: Forex Factory

Crypto Market Last 24 Hours Update: Prices, Volume & Trends

The global cryptocurrency market today reached a capitalization of $2.38 trillion, noted a drop of 0.7% upward trend in the last 24 hours, whereas Total trading volume recorded at $53.7 billion.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) dominance over the industry remains intense, with 56.6%, while Ethereum (ETH) carries 8.89%. The largest gainers in the industry over the past day are Polkadot and XRP Ledger Ecosystem. Recent news informs that Bitcoin is Dead. This trending search everywhere suggests ongoing industry conditions and risk alerts.

(Note: BTC and ETH are often viewed as less volatile historically, but still risky. The data recorded from CoinMarketCap)

  • Bitcoin (BTC) price today reached $67355, fell 0.76% in the last 24 hours, with a trading volume of $17.81 billion and a market cap of $1.34 trillion.

Bitcoin (BTC) price today

  • Ethereum (ETH) price today is at $1944.5, dips 1.28% in 24 hours with a trading volume of $9.43 billion and a market cap of $234 billion.

Ethereum (ETH) price today

(Trending data is based on a combination of 24-hour price movement, trading volume, and CoinMarketCap.com trending metrics.)

  • Falcon Finance price (FF): $0.07909, up 0.39% in the last 24 hours, trading volume (TV): $76M.

  • RaveDAO price (RAVE): $0.6790, up 4.27%, TV: $72.17M.

  • Pippin Price (PIPPIN): $0.6190, up 25.58%, TV: $66.15M.

  • Cysic price (CYS): $0.4037, up 7.26%, TV: $236.79M.

  • PAX Gold price (PAXG): $5,162.14, up 0.44%, TV: $186.73M.

(Ranked by 24-hour percentage gain)

  • Pippin price today (PIPPIN): $0.6172, jumps 25.35%, trading activity $66.10M.

  • Kite price today (KITE): $0.2609, up 16.46%; trading volume $259.76M.

  • Toncoin price today (TON): $1.35, rises 1.38%, trading activity $63.85M.

(Ranked by 24-hour percentage loss)

  • Ethena price (ENA): $0.09914, down 7.03%, trading activity around $82.38 million.

  • LayerZero price (ZRO): $1.59, down 6.43%, with trading volume of $71.77 million.

  • Zcash price (ZEC): $244.29, slipped 5.77%, trading activity close to $258.35 million.

  • Stablecoins reflect no change over the past 24 hours, with a Stablecoin market capitalization of $310 billion and trading volume of $40.7 billion.

  • The Overall (Defi) Decentralized Finance market declined 1.3% over the last 24 hours, recording a market cap of $49.3 billion and trading volume (TV) at $2.4 billion. Defi dominance globally marked 2.1%.

Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Today

Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Today

Source: Alternative Me

The current Fear and Greed Index is 5 (Extreme Fear) compared to 9 yesterday, 12 last week, and 25 last month. The steep drop is an indicator of increasing panic, which was probably caused by macro uncertainty, tariff tensions, and declining crypto prices, which are the signs of capitulation and low investor confidence.

Latest Crypto Market News Today, February 23

(Note: Each of these changes has an impact on traders because it influences the liquidity, sentiment, and possible returns, and therefore should be closely monitored.)

Jupiter DAO voted its Net-Zero Emissions proposal 75% in favor, delaying Jupuary, repurchasing 700 million JUP tokens, and halting team incentives to curb new supply.

Bitdeer, a bitcoin mining company, announced that it had mined 189.8 BTC this week and sold all the production. The company's reserves are zero, and the net change of BTC is minus 943.1.

Base left the Superchain, Moonwell hacketh through AI code, multiple DeFi closures, xStocks volume hitting $25 billion, and Uniswap suggesting a fee increase.

TRUMP meme coin enters the next stage, increasing liquidity, introducing Kamino vaults, new market makers, and 5% supply towards ecosystem development and expansion of the game.

X product lead Nikita Bier said X will add a disclosure tool next week requiring paid posts to be labeled, warning non-compliant accounts risk suspension.

President TRUMP announced an immediate increase in global trump tariffs from 10% to 15%, calling it fully legal after reviewing the Supreme Court ruling.

Comparative Insight

Compared to last month’s Fear & Greed Index of 25, today’s reading of 5 shows deepening risk aversion. Market cap fell 0.7%, while BTC dominance remains strong at 56.6%. Select altcoins post gains, but overall liquidity and sentiment remain fragile and defensive. 

What This Means for Cryptocurrency Users

Users face heightened short-term volatility as macro pressure, tariffs, and falling prices weigh on sentiment. Extreme Fear suggests potential oversold conditions, yet downside risks persist. Traders should monitor liquidity, dominance shifts, and volume trends before making short-term or Leveraged positions.

Risk Context: This commentary is not about long-term conditions and is merely informational. It does not point to the price or indicate an action to take on the investment.

CoinGabbar’s Opinion

Based on the 24-hour update, the market remains risky in the short term due to weak sentiment and macro uncertainty. While selective altcoin gains offer opportunities, broader conditions favor cautious accumulation rather than aggressive investment until stability improves.

Disclosure: The information is informational and not financial or investment advice. The cryptocurrency markets are risky and volatile. Never take investment decisions without doing your own research and seeking the advice of a certified financial consultant. Not every area is able to provide some of the discussed services or assets.


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