Throughout 2025, inflation kept climbing as tariff policies ramped up significantly. The big question now: does this inflationary pressure persist heading into 2026?

For crypto traders, this matters. Higher inflation traditionally drives interest in alternative assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum as hedges. But aggressive tariffs can also slow economic growth, creating mixed signals for risk assets. Will the monetary environment stay loose, or will central banks need to tighten further?

Keep an eye on inflation data releases and Fed signals in early 2026—they could shape market sentiment hard.