Business Sandesh Indian Newspaper | Articles | Opinion Pieces | Research Studies | Findings & News | Sandesh News
Crypto markets surged Thursday following a surprise move by former President Donald Trump, who announced a 90-day pause on newly proposed tariffs for U.S. allies—sending shockwaves through global markets and igniting a rapid rally in digital assets.
Bitcoin (BTC) soared past the $82,000 mark for the first time since mid-March, while Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple’s XRP each jumped over 13% on the day. The broader crypto market followed suit, with total market capitalization climbing more than 7% in 24 hours.
A Political Pause That Moved the Markets
The crypto rally was sparked after Trump, speaking at a Washington press conference, confirmed the U.S. would delay enforcement of sweeping new tariffs—which included a headline-grabbing 125% rate for Chinese imports. While China remains in the crosshairs, nations including Japan, the EU, and South Korea were granted temporary exemptions, easing investor fears of a full-scale global trade war.
“Markets were bracing for an all-out trade crisis,” said Ava Richardson, macro strategist at Helix Capital. “The pause was interpreted as a de-escalation—and crypto, as a risk-sensitive asset class, reacted instantly.”
Risk-On Mode: Why Crypto Responded So Sharply
Digital assets have increasingly been trading in sync with broader macro sentiment, particularly around inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical stressors. The tariff delay reduced near-term pressure on global trade, boosting risk appetite across equities, commodities—and notably, crypto.
Bitcoin, often seen as a hedge against monetary instability, jumped nearly 6% within hours of the announcement. Ethereum and XRP, both popular altcoins with strong retail and institutional exposure, followed with double-digit gains as traders rushed back into the market.
Analysts See Bullish Momentum Building
“BTC reclaiming $82K is technically significant,” said Julian Wang, lead analyst at CryptoQuant. “If this relief rally holds, we could see a test of the $85K level in the coming sessions.”
Trading volumes spiked across major exchanges, with ETH and XRP both experiencing their highest 24-hour volume since early March. Options activity also ticked up, signaling renewed speculative interest.
While the 90-day pause offers temporary relief, many warn the crypto rally could be short-lived if trade tensions flare again or if inflation data disappoints. Still, today’s move underscores how deeply embedded digital assets are in global financial narratives.
“This isn’t just about crypto anymore—it’s about crypto reacting to the same forces that move the S&P or the dollar,” said market analyst Leo Batista. “And today, that force was geopolitics.”
