Bitcoin Holds at $83K, Stocks Drop as Trade War Heats Up
While stocks continued their steep declines following China’s retaliatory tariffs against the US, Bitcoin remained stable at $83,000, remaining resilient in the face of the deepening global trade war.
Bitcoin rose 1.7% on Friday, according to Coin Metrics, while most major cryptocurrencies also saw gains. However, crypto-related stocks continued to struggle. Coinbase fell 8%, while Strategy rose less than 1%.
Meanwhile, gold prices fell, with spot gold down 2.5% to $3,041.09 an ounce and U.S. gold futures down 1.79% to $3,063.50.
Tariffs Are Shaking Markets, But Crypto Remains Steady
The new turmoil comes after China’s Commerce Ministry announced it would impose a 34% tariff on all U.S. goods, mirroring the tariff hike on Chinese imports that Trump announced on Wednesday.
The ongoing trade war has shaken stock markets, but Bitcoin has so far remained stable in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, indicating strong investor demand.
“Tariffs are increasing costs for US businesses and pushing capital out to Asia. They’re affecting everything, but the decentralized nature of crypto makes it more resilient. It could even be a long-term winner,” said James Davies, CEO of Crypto Valley Exchange.
Bitcoin as a Liquidity Indicator
Bitcoin initially fell following Trump’s tariff announcement, but the move was minor compared to the sharp decline in the stock market.
David Hernandez, crypto investment expert at 21Shares, noted that Bitcoin’s ability to hold key technical support points to strong fundamental demand.
“Crypto is affected by funding rates and available capital,” Davies added. “But the US only accounts for 20% of global crypto trading, and the market generally moves independently of economic turmoil in the US.
Bitcoin has become a global liquidity barometer that is the first to respond to shocks but also the quickest to recover.”
Despite economic uncertainty, Bitcoin’s ability to withstand market turmoil suggests that institutional investors and long-term holders continue to see value in the asset amid broader financial instability.
*This is not investment advice.