New York, February 21, 2026, 12:22 (EST) — The market has closed.
- Bitcoin gained roughly 1.7% in weekend trading, reaching $68,252 but still not breaching $70,000.
- Fresh U.S. tariff moves are now in the mix as traders size up hotter inflation numbers that might keep rates up for longer.
- Traders are watching for the next U.S. clue on rate direction: January producer prices land Feb. 27, with the PCE inflation data set for March 13.
Bitcoin gained 1.7% to reach $68,252 on Saturday, with prices swinging from $67,000 to $68,637, market data showed.
The headline move isn’t the main story here. With U.S. markets closed for the weekend, traders have turned to Bitcoin as their real-time risk barometer before Monday’s open—especially while shifting headlines keep rate bets in flux.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s bumping up temporary tariffs on nearly every U.S. import, moving the rate to 15% from 10%. He cited Section 122, a measure that lets him impose tariffs for as long as 150 days without congressional approval unless lawmakers decide to prolong them. “Effective immediately,” Trump stated in his announcement on Truth Social. Reuters
The tariff move hits just as fresh inflation figures keep the Fed boxed in. Core PCE—the central bank’s go-to inflation measure that leaves out food and energy—climbed 0.4% in December, putting it 3.0% higher than the same month last year, Friday’s release showed. Barclays economist Pooja Sriram called the category “very volatile,” noting the spike in legal services prices offers “very little forward-looking inference.” Reuters
Dallas Fed chief Lorie Logan on Friday described herself as “cautiously optimistic” that inflation will ease, but stopped short of calling victory. “I’m not fully convinced that we’re on a pathway to our 2% target,” she said, pointing to continued uncertainty from tariffs and their ripple effects. Reuters
Bitcoin edged up after a stronger Friday, notching a 1.16% gain to $67,690. Ether added 1.09% to finish at $1,969. Stocks closed higher after the Supreme Court’s tariff decision, according to .
In crypto, the logic runs short and sharp: steeper tariffs often translate to pricier goods, and pricier goods risk testing the Fed’s patience. That spells trouble for assets fueled by abundant liquidity.
Still, swings tend to get amplified over the weekend. The next sharp move could just as quickly reverse if yields spike, the dollar strengthens, or if tariff news starts fueling inflation expectations rather than stoking growth concerns.
Bitcoin remains well below its highs from October, when it surged past $125,000 for the first time late last year.
Friday brings the next real mover: January’s U.S. Producer Price Index lands at 8:30 a.m. ET. After that, the PCE inflation numbers hit on March 13. Both readings have the potential to shake up expectations for rate cuts right as global tariff rules get another shake.
