Trump Skips Crypto in State of the Union Address, Markets React

Highlights:

• Trump skipped the mention of crypto during the State of the Union Address despite past pro-industry remarks.
• Tariffs and inflation dominated the speech and shaped expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
• Bitcoin and Ethereum rose after the address, even without new crypto policy signals.

President Donald Trump skipped the mention of crypto during the record 108-minute State of the Union Address. He skipped any reference to Bitcoin, Ethereum, or digital asset regulation. The omission came even though he had previously said the United States should lead in crypto. His sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, who remain active in the industry, sat in attendance.

⚠️ UPDATE: TRUMP CONCLUDES LONGEST STATE OF THE UNION IN HISTORY; NO MENTION OF CRYPTO OR BITCOIN IN THE ADDRESS pic.twitter.com/csN8udFpiv

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) February 25, 2026

Trump instead used the State of the Union Address to press his economic message. He spoke about falling inflation and rising stock markets. He also pointed to tax relief and job growth in his address.

The speech lasted nearly two hours and broke his previous time mark. He praised the U.S. men’s hockey team for winning gold at the Winter Olympics. He described the economy as strong and improving. However, he left digital assets out of the narrative.

In Washington, the crypto bill remains stuck. Senators have not advanced the Crypto Market Structure bill. Lawmakers are still arguing over stablecoin yield rules and the draft language. After the State of the Union Address, the odds of the CLARITY Act passing in 2026 stood at 47% in the prediction platform Polymarket.

Tariffs and Inflation Take Center Stage Amid SBF Pardon Uncertainty

Trump spent a large portion of the State of the Union Address defending tariffs. Trump called the Supreme Court ruling that limited his emergency tariff powers “very unfortunate.” He said he would use other legal authority to keep tariffs in place. He insisted congressional action would not be necessary.

The rollout of the new tariffs has created confusion. Trump first referenced a 10% replacement rate and then shifted to 15% days later. Official documents showed that the 10% rate took effect on Tuesday with no directive to raise it.

Trump also devoted time to artificial intelligence. During the State of the Union Address, he introduced a ratepayer protection pledge. He said large tech companies must build their own power plants for AI data centers. He stated that the grid could not handle the rising demand alone. The president also touched on the issue of inflation. Trump said in a tweet that core inflation came down to 1.7% in late 2025. The Fed-preferred core PCE measure indicated inflation nearer to 3% in December.

In a related development, the White House confirmed that Trump has no plan to pardon Sam Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried has posted frequently on social media platforms criticizing Democrats while praising Trump’s economic positions. A White House official reiterated that no clemency is under consideration.

🚨 BREAKING: TRUMP HAS NO PLANS TO GRANT SAM BANKMAN-FRIED A PARDON, SAYS WHITE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/eBBktDfGOf

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) February 25, 2026

Market Reacts Despite No Crypto Mention in the State of the Union Address

The crypto market has reacted positively after the State of the Union Address. Bitcoin is trading above $65,000 after a brief decline below that zone. The coin is trading at $65,501, a 3.72% increase in the past day. The market cap has also reclaimed the $1.3 trillion mark.

Meanwhile, Ethereum climbed to around $1,911 over the same period, gaining 5.04% in the past day. The overall crypto market cap is up 2.74% to $2.25 trillion. The upcoming rate expectations will now depend on the incoming economic data after crypto failed to feature in the State of the Union address. Inflation readings and labor numbers will guide the Federal Reserve decisions.