U.S. Tariffs Surge 86% in 2025, Driving $27 Billion June Surplus

The United States has collected a substantial $113 billion in tariffs in 2025, marking an 86% increase from the previous year. In June alone, the government amassed around $27 billion, resulting in a rare monthly budget surplus of $27 billion—the first since 2005. This surplus is directly linked to recent tariff announcements made by Donald Trump, which were increased and expanded in April and July.

However, this surplus follows one of the largest monthly deficits in U.S. history—$316 billion in May 2025. The economic shift has sparked questions about the sustainability of this strategy and its impact on other markets, particularly the cryptocurrency market.

In early July, Donald Trump announced new tariff measures targeting several countries with high tax rates. These include Brazil (50%), Cambodia and Thailand (36%), Bangladesh and Serbia (35%), and Japan and South Korea (25%). These tariffs are set to take effect from August 1. Trump has warned that any retaliation will result in even higher duties, and no company aligned with BRICS or “anti-American” policies will be spared.

This aggressive tariff policy has raised questions about whether Trump will continue this high-stakes game in 2025. Many believe he will, given the clear profit from rising collections and growing political pressure. As the U.S. President thinks from a business point of view, he will likely impose more tariffs on more countries for economic growth.

Interestingly, the cryptocurrency market crash seen earlier in 2025 was partly caused by fears. Back in February, Donald Trump’s tariff announcement caused panic selling, dropping Bitcoin’s price to $94,000. However, confidence bounced back when the pause was announced, leading to more inflows into digital assets.

Today, despite rising trade pressure, the market is up again. At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is trading above $117,000, showing a 0.65% increase in a day. Total market cap now stands at $3.68 trillion, with steady 24-hour volumes. This growth may be tied to inflation concerns, dollar volatility, and investor interest in safer, decentralized assets. Tariffs weaken global fiat currencies, making digital alternatives more attractive.

On July 10, Trump said crypto is “through the roof,” and highlighted that Nvidia rose 47% since his tariff changes. But this rise comes with risks. Trade wars can slow down economies and lower global liquidity. If major economies respond with countermeasures, it could harm overall investment—including in crypto.

The Trump tariffs, along with wider trade duties, are boosting government revenue. However, some experts fear that continued surpluses might attract more regulatory attention to digital assets. Governments may view high-performing crypto as an untapped revenue source or a risk to national currency control.

As the collection of tariffs increases, the government can be more strict with cross-border assets flow, particularly for the sanctioned nations or high-tariff nations. This can pose new challenges to global crypto exchanges as well as blockchain projects. Thus, even while the existing market appears to favor virtual assets, long-term consequences of trade policies may portend opportunity and challenge.

The increasing tariff receipts and economic changes are generating hope and fear among crypto traders. Dollar weakness and inflation on one side could trigger Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies' demand. Conversely, if global trade declines and regulations rise, the market will experience headwinds. Investors will have to remain cautious in tracking policy action, all the while.