Bitcoin, Altcoins Slide Toward New Lows as Equities React to Fresh Trump‑Era Tariffs
Feb 23 2026 – Global crypto markets
Major U.S. equities suffered a sharp pull‑back on Tuesday after President Donald Trump signaled that he will impose a 15 % global tariff, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared his earlier IEEPA tariffs illegal. The news reverberated through the cryptocurrency space, where Bitcoin and a host of altcoins retreated to new multi‑week lows.
Market sentiment turns hostile
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, a widely‑cited barometer of market mood, sits at 5 / 100, placing it squarely in the “extreme fear” zone. According to the pseudonymous analyst “BitcoinHyper,” the index has lingered in this territory for almost three weeks – the longest stretch of such fear since the 2022 market downturn.
Prediction‑market participants on Polymarket have reacted in kind, boosting the odds that Bitcoin will slip below $55,000 to 72 %. Several institutional analysts echo that forecast, expecting the leading cryptocurrency to test – and possibly breach – the $55k barrier in the coming days.
Bitcoin’s technical outlook
After breaking the $65,118 support level on Monday, Bitcoin (BTC) now battles to hold the $60,000 floor. The 20‑day exponential moving average (EMA) at $70,185 is acting as a near‑term resistance hub; a decisive move above it could restore momentum toward the $74,508 zone. Conversely, a break under the 20‑day EMA would likely trigger a sharper decline, potentially taking the pair to $52,500 if the $60k level fails.
Long‑term statistical modelling by economist Timothy Peterson suggests a more optimistic horizon: Bitcoin has risen in 50 % of trading periods over the past 24 months, and his model assigns an 88 % probability that the price will be higher ten months from now.
Altcoin pressure points
| Coin | Current trigger | Key support | Next resistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ether (ETH) | Below $1,897 | $1,750 → $1,537 | $2,111 → 50‑day SMA $2,593 |
| XRP | Trading near $1.47 (20‑day EMA) | $1.11 → $1.00 | $1.47 (EMA) |
| BNB | Fell past $587 | $570 → $500 | $651 (20‑day EMA) → $730 |
| Solana (SOL) | Below $95 breakdown | $76 → $67 → $60 | $95 (EMA) → $117 |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | Under $0.10 (20‑day EMA) | $0.08 → $0.06 | $0.12 (breakout) |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | Below $571 (50‑day SMA) | $538 → $500 | $600 |
| Cardano (ADA) | Under $0.28 (20‑day EMA) | Channel support → $0.15 | $0.28 (EMA) |
Most of the top‑ten cryptocurrencies share a common pattern: descending moving averages, RSI readings drifting toward oversold or negative territory, and price action testing recent support bands. In several cases – notably ETH, SOL and BNB – the next technical hurdle lies just a few percentage points away, but a breach could accelerate a broader downtrend across the market.
Equity backdrop
The S&P 500 index (SPX) has been range‑bound between 6,775 and 7,002 for several sessions. Moving averages are flat and the RSI hovers near the midpoint, offering no clear directional bias. A decisive close above the 7,002 resistance could revive bullish momentum toward 7,290, while a slip below 6,775 would expose the index to the solid 6,550 support zone.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has turned lower, slipping beneath its 50‑day simple moving average (97.95). Should sellers keep the index below the 20‑day EMA (97.48), the pair may find support around 96.21–95.55. A bounce back above the 50‑day SMA could see DXY rally toward 99.50 and eventually 100.54.
Key takeaways
- Extreme fear dominates: The Fear & Greed Index at 5 underscores heightened risk aversion across crypto investors.
- Bitcoin’s next barrier is $60k: The 20‑day EMA at $70,185 is a pivotal test; a breach could trigger a slide toward $52,500.
- Altcoins are broadly under pressure: Most major tokens are testing recent support levels, with the next 2‑week outlook pointing to further downside unless a decisive bounce occurs.
- Equity markets are volatile: The S&P 500’s narrow range and the DXY’s weakening trend suggest that macro‑economic uncertainty is likely to keep crypto markets on edge.
- Long‑term outlook remains cautiously bullish: Historical data shows a roughly even chance of price appreciation over 24‑month windows, and many analysts still see a high probability of higher prices in a 10‑month horizon.
Investors are advised to monitor the $60,000 Bitcoin floor, the $1,750 ETH level, and the $1.47 XRP EMA as early warning signs of deeper market stress. Until broader geopolitical and trade tensions ease, volatility is expected to persist across both traditional and digital asset classes.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/price-predictions-2-23-spx-dxy-btc-eth-xrp-bnb-sol-doge-bch-ada?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
