Ethereum rises after SCOTUS tariff ruling, $1.5K risk

SCOTUS ruling lifted risk appetite; Ethereum price rose by correlation

A court decision that focused on trade policy, not crypto, helped lift risk appetite across assets, and Ethereum moved in step with that broader tone. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling addressed tariffs, so the market reaction in digital assets appears driven by correlation rather than a crypto-specific legal change.

As reported by Yahoo Finance, U.S. equities advanced after the Court deemed President Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs illegal, a shift that supported cyclical risk sentiment. FXStreet likewise noted GBP/USD edged higher following the ruling, underscoring how cross-asset moves can spill into crypto beta when macro risk appetite improves.

Why a drop to $1,500 is possible for Ethereum price

Even with the day’s bounce, coverage highlighted the possibility that ETH could revisit lower levels. As reported by CoinGape, Ethereum price rose by roughly 2.20% on February 20 even as a potential pullback toward the $1,500 area was discussed alongside broader market dynamics.

Technically, ETH remains vulnerable when it trades below widely watched moving averages, a configuration that often reflects a prevailing downtrend. Momentum has been subdued on a 14-day RSI basis, and elevated volatility means two-way swings can be abrupt as liquidity shifts.

In this setup, a slide toward $1,500 is a scenario, rather than a prediction, that could unfold if risk sentiment weakens or if market structure deteriorates. Conversely, sustained strength and closes back above key moving averages with better breadth would work against the downside case.

Key drivers: SEC uncertainty, inflation, Fed policy, crypto flows

Regulatory uncertainty remains a central risk factor for ETH. As reported by Fox Business, court filings showed that SEC Chair Gary Gensler and staff at one point considered whether Ethereum might be a security, leaving the asset in a gray zone that can weigh on sentiment while enforcement paths remain unsettled.

Legal debate has also focused on how decentralization informs classification. “no central actor runs the Ethereum network,” said Orlando Cosme, CEO of Lexproof, in commentary discussing a 2024 court ruling and DOJ action, underscoring arguments some observers use against treating ETH as a security.

Macro conditions are also in play. According to CoinDesk, a hotter-inflation, slower-growth mix has delivered a messy signal, with the Federal Reserve likely to take its time before any policy changes; in crypto, that backdrop can moderate net inflows and keep correlation to broader risk assets elevated, heightening sensitivity to data releases and policy headlines.