$BTC This is a common confusion caused by the mixing of two actual policies of his administration that are happening at the same time. To be direct: It is not true that Donald Trump has declared that tariffs must be paid mandatorily in Bitcoins.
Here I explain the reality behind today's rumors and news, February 20, 2026:
1. Today's judicial setback
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a historic ruling (6-3) declaring that the global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are illegal. The court ruled that the Executive does not have the authority to impose these tariffs unilaterally without Congressional approval, which has led to a strong upward movement in the cryptocurrency market as a "relief bounce."
2. Where does the confusion with Bitcoin come from?
The idea that "Trump will charge in Bitcoin" is due to the combination of three distinct facts:
The Strategic Reserve of BTC: Trump has argued that the U.S. should maintain a national reserve of Bitcoin, but as a treasury asset (similar to gold), not as the method of payment for foreign trade.
Acceptance for taxes: It has been discussed to allow citizens to pay certain federal taxes in cryptocurrencies, but this is very different from requiring other countries to pay trade tariffs in BTC.
Dollar Protection: Trump has threatened with 100% tariffs on countries that abandon the use of the dollar (de-dollarization), which some misinterpreted as a transition to Bitcoin, when in reality it is an attempt to protect the traditional currency.
3. The impact on the market
Tariffs have always been calculated and charged in dollars (USD). In fact, tariff announcements often cause Bitcoin to temporarily drop due to fears of a trade war, as happened in January of this year when threats against Europe caused liquidations of $875 million in the crypto market.
In summary: Tariffs are paid in dollars. Trump's interest in Bitcoin is to strengthen the country's reserves, not to change the customs collection system. With today's Supreme Court ruling, much of his tariff agenda is now legally in doubt.
BTC66,726.01+0.11%
