Bitcoin drops, Ether slammed after Trump’s tariffs cause global risk-off move

Ad

Somaderm


In this article

  • COIN
  • BTC.CM=

Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTU.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Bitcoin.Cheney Orr | Dado Ruvic | Reuters

Cryptocurrencies tumbled in a risk-off move after President Donald Trump hit Canada, Mexico and China with long-threatened import tariffs.

The price of bitcoin was at $95,722.77, down from a price above $102,000 before the weekend, according to Coin Metrics. Ether plunged to around $2,600 from above $3,300 Friday.

The slide began Saturday night after Trump signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% duty on China, which will take effect Tuesday. The U.S. does about $1.6 trillion in business with the three countries.

Jeff Park, Bitwise Asset Management’s head of alpha strategies, said a sustained tariff war will be “amazing” for bitcoin in the long-run due to an eventual weakening of the dollar and U.S. rates.

While many believe bitcoin is a hedge against inflation and uncertainty over the long term, it trades like a risk asset in the short term — and is likely to respond negatively to any uncertainty around the trade war triggered by Trump’s tariffs.

Investors are watching $90,000 as the key support level in bitcoin, and some have warned of an even deeper pullback toward $80,000 should the cryptocurrency meaningfully break below its support.

Bitcoin is about 16% off its Jan. 20 record of $109,350.72. Seasoned crypto investors and traders have become accustomed over the years to corrections of around 30% during bull markets.

Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC Pro:

  • Beware of a ‘self-fulfilling’ sell-off if bitcoin returns to $90,000, says Standard Chartered
  • Regulatory clarity could drive bitcoin to $225,000 this year, says H.C. Wainwright
  • Pro Talks: Grayscale’s Zach Pandl on bitcoin’s rally and the crypto market’s setup for 2025

Ad

Somaderm

SomaDerm, SomaDerm CBD, SomaDerm AWE (by New U Life).

Somaderm Gel is an advanced scientific formulation created to support your body’s natural growth hormone production. Somaderm is based on the latest research and technology in the field of nutritional supplements and is designed to help you feel and look your best.