US-China trade war escalates: Bitcoin falls below US$78K amid market chaos

US-China trade war escalates: Bitcoin falls below US$78K amid market chaos

The escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, particularly in light of President Donald Trump’s recent tariff policies is giving me chills. The announcement of these sweeping tariffs, dubbed “Liberation Day” by the Trump administration, has sent shockwaves through financial markets, impacting everything from traditional equities to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Today, on April 7, 2025, the world is grappling with the fallout of this bold economic move, and I’d like to offer my perspective on how these developments are reshaping the global financial landscape, with a particular focus on their implications for cryptocurrencies and broader market sentiment.

The latest chapter in this saga began when Trump unveiled a comprehensive tariff strategy on April 2, 2025, imposing a 10 per cent baseline levy on all US imports, with steeper duties targeting specific countries—34 per cent on China and 20 per cent on the European Union, among others. This policy, aimed at addressing trade imbalances and bolstering domestic manufacturing, was met with swift retaliation from Beijing, which announced additional 34 per cent tariffs on all US goods just days later.

The tit-for-tat escalation has heightened fears of a full-blown global trade war, pushing investors to seek refuge in safe-haven assets like US Treasury bonds and gold, while riskier assets—stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies—have taken a significant hit. The MSCI US index plummeted 6.0 per cent in response, with US equity futures signalling a further 3.3 per cent drop at the open, reflecting the deepening gloom among investors.

For cryptocurrencies, the impact has been particularly pronounced. Bitcoin, the bellwether of the crypto market, has tumbled below US$78,000, trading at US$77,840 as of Sunday—a six per cent decline that mirrors the broader retreat in risk sentiment. This drop comes after a staggering US$247 million in long liquidations rocked the market over a 24-hour period, a clear sign that traders are unwinding their bullish positions amid the uncertainty.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has fared even worse, plunging below US$1,600 and erasing over 14 per cent of its value in the same timeframe, with US$217 million in liquidations adding fuel to the fire. These dramatic sell-offs underscore the vulnerability of digital assets to macroeconomic shocks, particularly when investor confidence in traditional markets begins to waver.

What’s striking about this downturn is how it contrasts with the optimism that surrounded cryptocurrencies earlier this year. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of US$109,000 in January, buoyed by Trump’s election victory in November 2024 and his subsequent pro-crypto rhetoric. During his campaign, Trump pivoted from being a crypto skeptic to a vocal supporter, promising to make the US the “crypto capital of the world” and even floating the idea of a national cryptocurrency stockpile.

That enthusiasm carried over into the early months of his administration, with Bitcoin trading above US$80,000 for much of 2025 despite intermittent volatility. Ethereum, too, enjoyed a robust start to the year, hovering above US$1,800 as recently as last week. But the tariff announcement has flipped the script, exposing the fragility of these gains in the face of broader economic headwinds.

The interplay between Trump’s tariffs and the crypto market is a fascinating case study in how geopolitical and economic policies can ripple through decentralised ecosystems. Historically, Bitcoin has been touted as a hedge against inflation and economic instability—qualities that should, in theory, make it resilient during times like these.

Indeed, some analysts argue that tariffs could ultimately bolster Bitcoin’s long-term appeal by weakening the US dollar’s dominance and driving interest in alternative assets. Jeff Park from Bitwise Asset Management, for instance, suggested that a sustained tariff war could be “amazing for Bitcoin in the long run” due to its potential to undermine traditional currencies. Yet, in the short term, the data tells a different story: Bitcoin and Ethereum are moving in lockstep with risk assets like tech stocks, not as a counterweight to them.

This correlation is evident in the broader market dynamics. The Nasdaq Composite, a tech-heavy index, is careening toward a bear market, while the S&P 500 has shed 4.8 per cent in a single day—its worst drop since June 2020. Defensive sectors like Consumer Staples and Real Estate, while still down, have outperformed the broader market, signalling a flight to safety that hasn’t yet extended to cryptocurrencies.

Meanwhile, commodities like Brent crude have slumped toward US$65 per barrel, reflecting fears that tariffs will dampen global demand growth just as OPEC+ ramps up supply. The US Dollar Index has edged up 0.9 per cent, consolidating recent losses, but Treasury yields are pulling back—the 10-year at 3.99 per cent and the 2-year at 3.65 per cent—as recession odds climb. Gold, typically a rival safe haven to Bitcoin, has held firm above US$3,000 per ounce despite a 2.5 per cent dip, underscoring its enduring appeal in times of crisis.

Digging deeper into the crypto sell-off, the liquidation cascade offers a window into the mechanics of this downturn. For Ethereum, a single whale’s US$106 million loss—triggered by the sale of 67,570 ETH on Maker—appears to have sparked a chain reaction, dragging prices from above US$1,800 to US$1,500 in a matter of hours. Another investor’s sale of 14,014 ETH, valued at $22 million, further amplified the panic, pushing Ethereum to levels not seen since October 2023.

These events highlight the leveraged nature of the crypto market, where large positions can magnify price swings, especially during periods of heightened uncertainty. Bitcoin, while less severely impacted, still saw its own wave of liquidations, with US$247 million wiped out as traders rushed to exit long positions.

In my humble point of view, the tariffs are acting as a double-edged sword for cryptocurrencies. On one hand, they’re stoking fears of slower growth and higher inflation—conditions that could, over time, drive adoption of decentralised assets as a hedge against traditional systems.

Trump’s own pro-crypto stance, including his March announcement of a strategic reserve featuring Bitcoin and Ethereum, lends credence to this narrative. Yet, in the immediate term, the market is behaving more like a risk proxy than a safe haven. The Fear & Greed Index, a barometer of crypto sentiment, remains mired in “fear” territory, a stark contrast to the exuberance of earlier this year.

Looking ahead, the trajectory of this trade war will be critical. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has signalled that the central bank won’t rush to cut rates in response to the tariffs, despite their potential to slow US growth and stoke inflation. This stance could exacerbate the pressure on risk assets if inflationary pressures persist without monetary relief.

For Bitcoin and Ethereum, a prolonged period of market turmoil could test key support levels—US$75,000 for Bitcoin and US$1,400 for Ethereum—before any recovery takes hold. Yet, if the tariffs weaken confidence in fiat currencies or trigger a broader shift away from dollar-centric systems, as some experts predict, cryptocurrencies could emerge stronger on the other side.

As I reflect on these developments, I’m struck by the paradox at play. Trump’s tariffs, intended to strengthen the US economy, are instead unleashing chaos across global markets, including the very crypto ecosystem he’s championed. For investors, the challenge lies in navigating this volatility—balancing the short-term pain of sell-offs against the long-term promise of digital assets. From where I stand, the story is far from over.

The coming weeks will reveal whether this is a temporary blip or the start of a deeper reckoning for cryptocurrencies and the global economy alike. One thing is certain: in this interconnected world, no market is an island, and the reverberations of “Liberation Day” will be felt for months, if not years, to come.

 

Source: https://e27.co/us-china-trade-war-escalates-bitcoin-falls-below-us78k-amid-market-chaos-20250407/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j

Bitcoin Slips Back Below $57,000 as Short-Term Holders Threaten Volatility

Bitcoin Slips Back Below $57,000 as Short-Term Holders Threaten Volatility

Bitcoin failed to hold levels above $58,000 Thursday morning, slipping to $56,700 and trading flat on the day.

Per data from CoinGecko, the price of Bitcoin is currently $56,794, up 0.6% in the past 24 hours and down 4.7% on the week.

Even as Bitcoin dropped to a little below 20% under its all time high, a new analysis has revealed a growing growing risk factor in the crypto market—short-term holders who are currently underwater on their investments could potentially trigger significant market volatility if they decide to cut their losses.

Despite the average Bitcoin investor remaining in a profitable position, those who have recently entered the market or acquired Bitcoin in the last six months are facing substantial unrealized losses. This dynamic creates a potentially volatile situation that could impact the broader crypto market.

“The Short-Term Holder cohort remains heavily underwater on their holdings, making them a source of risk for the time being,” a report by blockchain intelligence firm Glassnode states. This group’s financial stress is evident in key metrics, with their unrealized losses dominating the overall market picture.

The report cautions that this overall stability could be disrupted if short-term holders decide to exit their positions en masse. The $51,000 price level is identified as a critical support that must be maintained to preserve the current market structure.

The average cost basis for these investors ranges from $59,000 to $65,200, significantly above the current market price.

This situation is reminiscent of the choppy market conditions seen in 2019, rather than a full-scale bear market, the report’s authors noted. However, it still presents a considerable risk.

“Until the spot price reclaims the STH [Short-Term Holder] cost basis of $62.4k, there is an expectation for further market weakness,” the report stated.

The implications of this stress on short-term holders extend beyond their individual positions. Their potential selling pressure could trigger broader market volatility, especially given the current low levels of overall profit and loss-taking activities.

Interestingly, while short-term holders grapple with losses, long-term investors appear to be in a more stable position.

The report indicates that long-term holders have slowed their profit-taking activities, and coins accumulated during the recent all-time high run-up are gradually maturing into long-term holdings.

 

Source: https://decrypt.co/248179/bitcoin-price-flirts-with-55000-as-etfs-see-seventh-day-of-outflows

 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j

Crypto Liquidations Top $1 Billion After Bitcoin Dives Below $50K

Crypto Liquidations Top $1 Billion After Bitcoin Dives Below $50K

The cryptocurrency market experienced a seismic shock in the past 24 hours, with total liquidations surpassing $1.06 billion and affecting 278,480 traders.

This market meltdown, characterized by a stark imbalance between long and short positions, saw long liquidations reaching a staggering $902 million, while short liquidations stood at $160 million, according to CoinGlass data.

The single largest liquidation in the past day has been a $27 million position on Huobi, according to Coinglass.

Bitcoin (BTC), the flagship cryptocurrency, plummeted to a low of $49,647 during early European trading hours before slightly recovering to $52,900, still down 12.5% compared to this time yesterday.

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency, faced an even steeper decline, dropping 19.5% to $2,345 after touching a low of $2,111, according to TradingView data.

The carnage wasn’t limited to the top two cryptocurrencies.

The broader altcoin market experienced significant losses, with Solana (SOL) and BNB (BNB) down 13% and 16% respectively, Dogecoin (DOGE) plunging 18%, and XRP falling 15%.

Global Economic Factors at Play

Anndy Lian, an intergovernmental blockchain expert, attributes this downturn to the increasing interconnectedness between traditional financial markets and cryptocurrencies.

“There is a growing connection between traditional financial markets and cryptocurrency markets, meaning that disruptions in one can lead to instability in the other,” Lian told Decrypt.

He pointed to recent developments in the U.S. economy as a primary catalyst.

“The unemployment rate increased to 4.3% from the previous 4.1%. This unexpected rise has heightened fears of a potential recession, causing investors to worry that the Federal Reserve may be slow to respond with interest rate cuts,” Lian stated.

The ripple effects were felt across various sectors.

The MSCI US Index, a market-capitalization weighted index that tracks large- and mid-cap segments of the U.S. equities market, dropped by 1.8% last Friday, with the consumer discretionary sector performing particularly poorly, falling by 4.3%. This weakness underscores growing concerns about consumer spending and economic growth.

Bleak Outlook for Bitcoin

10x Research provided a grim forecast for the crypto market.

“Although Bitcoin has been in a gradual downtrend, marked by three tops and two bottoms, we anticipate the support line at $55,000 will break, potentially driving prices down to $42,000. In such a scenario, Ethereum could drop below $2,000,” they stated.

The research firm cited economic weakness, ongoing weak market structure, on-chain data, and cycle analysis as factors supporting their bearish outlook.

Meanwhile, Tristan Dickinson, CMO of Bitcoin scaling solution exSat Network, highlighted the impact of global events on the crypto market.

“Bitcoin isn’t immune to global macro events. The 12% plunge in the Nikkei, coupled with dismal performances from the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, is fuelling global recession fears,” Dickinson told Decrypt.

He also pointed to the “very real threat of global conflict” as an additional factor unsettling investors.

Dickinson added a note of caution regarding the coming months: “August and September are historically weak months, suggesting potential sideways movement and further tests of Bitcoin’s support levels.”

 

Source: https://decrypt.co/243123/crypto-liquidations-top-1-billion-after-bitcoin-dives-below-50k

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j