Markets React to New Tariff Threats but Stay Resilient

On Thursday (24/04-US), U.S. stock markets initially plunged following President Trump's renewed tariff threats but quickly recovered, closing in positive territory. The Nasdaq surged the most, rising 2.74%. Futures markets showed slight gains, oil hovered around $63/barrel, and gold increased to $3371/ounce.

Positive earnings from companies like Alphabet (Google) contributed to the rebound, but overarching concerns about tariffs dominate sentiment. If the belief holds that "the worst has passed," markets may stabilize similarly to late 2022 and early 2023 when they rallied despite Fed rate hikes.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin remained resilient around $93,000, with major altcoins posting mild gains. The crypto market capitalization now stands at $3.027 trillion.

U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded net inflows of $442 million, with major contributions from BlackRock and Fidelity's funds. Ethereum spot ETFs also saw positive inflows of $63.5 million.

Fed Commentary and Interest Rate Outlook

Fed officials continue to call for caution. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack suggested that while cutting rates in May would be premature, a reduction by June remains possible if economic indicators soften further.

Despite mounting political pressure, particularly from President Trump who urged immediate rate cuts, the Fed upholds its independent stance. Trump stressed that he does not intend to fire Chair Jerome Powell but remains critical of Powell's "slow" response to economic risks.

U.S.–China Trade Tensions Update

President Trump warned that retaliatory tariffs could be imposed within 2–3 weeks if no trade deals materialize, though he did not specify targeted countries.

Regarding China, confusion persists. Chinese officials denied any ongoing trade talks, while U.S. officials insisted negotiations continue. This discrepancy hints at behind-the-scenes discussions without formal agreements yet.

Global Trade Negotiations: Europe, South Korea, UK

South Korea and the U.S. agreed to build a framework to lift new tariffs before the temporary suspension expires in July. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described discussions with Korea as "very successful."

German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies reassured that transatlantic trust remains strong despite tariff disputes. He expressed hope for a "zero-for-zero" tariff agreement between the U.S. and Europe.

European leaders remain optimistic about reaching deals with Trump to avoid economic fallout. Meanwhile, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced a $50 billion investment in the U.S. to navigate around tariffs.

UK Treasury Secretary Rachel Reeves emphasized that Britain is negotiating but refuses to compromise on food standards.

Crypto Sector Accelerates

ARK Invest raised its Bitcoin price target to $2.4 million by 2030. Senator Dave McCormick disclosed significant personal investments into Bitcoin ETFs, signaling rising political and institutional confidence in Bitcoin.

The Fed eased restrictions on banks engaging with crypto, removing prior approval requirements—another bullish regulatory shift.

Michael Saylor projected BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF could become the world's largest ETF within a decade.

PayPal aggressively promoted its stablecoin PYUSD by offering 3.7% APY on holdings, aiming to expand stablecoin usage beyond trading into everyday financial services.

Jack Mallers' new firm, Twenty One Capital, formally launched with over 42,000 BTC, backed by Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald.

SoftBank also partnered with Tether and Bitfinex to launch "21 Capital," starting with a $3 billion Bitcoin treasury.

Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin rapidly grew to a $294 million market cap, mostly circulating on Ethereum.

Bitcoin's Rising Dominance and Institutional Accumulation

Bitcoin’s valuation has propelled it into the top five global assets by market cap. It also achieved a new high relative to the NASDAQ index.

Despite retail ETF outflows in April, institutions and sovereign wealth funds continued to accumulate Bitcoin directly. Coinbase Institutional identified three drivers: de-dollarization, Bitcoin’s separation from tech stocks, and its appeal as an inflation hedge.

Bitcoin remains unique among digital assets due to its decentralization, making it a more secure long-term store of value compared to stablecoins or centralized crypto assets.

Upcoming Catalysts

76,000 Bitcoin options contracts, worth about $7.11 billion, are set to expire on Deribit this Friday, with max pain positioned at $85,000.

Ethereum options totaling $805 million are also set for expiry, with a max pain price near $1,900.

Trump announced an exclusive dinner event for top Trump token holders, fueling a speculative rally.

Additional Developments

The IMF’s Alfred Kammer suggested the ECB could cut rates by 25 basis points this summer.

Twenty One Capital is poised for further Bitcoin acquisitions.

Hespérides University launched a Bitcoin-focused Master's program.

HK Asia Holdings plans to raise $8.3 million for additional Bitcoin investments.

Metaplanet increased its Bitcoin holdings to 5,000 BTC.

Russia’s central bank is preparing to open a crypto exchange targeting ultra-high-net-worth investors.

Meta announced layoffs in its Reality Labs division, affecting Oculus Studios and VR initiatives.

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Despite volatile trade dynamics and monetary uncertainties, Bitcoin is cementing its status as a resilient and independent asset. As institutional adoption accelerates and regulatory clarity improves, the foundations for a robust crypto market expansion are solidifying ahead of 2025.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Readers should conduct independent research or consult financial advisors before making investment decisions.