Bitcoin fell sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff increase on Chinese goods, escalating trade tensions.
The move triggered a massive $9.55 billion crypto liquidation, highlighting market susceptibility to geopolitical events.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff increase on all imports from China, citing China’s new export controls on rare‑earth minerals. His statement was made on Truth Social, affecting the crypto market by triggering substantial sell‑offs.
Trump’s announcement led to over $9.55 billion in cryptocurrency liquidations, marking the largest single‑day drop in the sector’s history. Key figures like Joshua Duckett noted the highly leveraged nature of the market was a significant factor.
“Most people don’t invest more than they can lose, but in the crypto industry as a whole, in terms of leveraged trading, it’s in the billions. The amounts that people have lost are varying. Some people lost hundreds, thousands, millions, the total in terms of liquidations extends into the billions.”
The immediate effects rippled across the crypto market, with Bitcoin and Ethereum suffering double‑digit declines. The broader financial implications include a substantial impact on crypto‑related stocks like Circle and Coinbase.
Analysts predict further market volatility if U.S‑China tensions persist, emphasizing the role of excessive leverage. Experts highlight parallels to the 2025 ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and the 2018–2019 trade war shocks that reshaped assets' correlations.