Crypto Sinks as Global Markets Slide Ahead of Trump’s Tariff Reveal; Bitcoin Holds $81.5K

Financial markets around the world are starting the week on shaky ground, as investors remain wary of potential disruptions from U.S. President Donald Trump’s anticipated tariff announcement, expected on April 2.

In the crypto space, Bitcoin (BTC) held steady just above $81,500 during Asian trading hours on Monday. However, the broader market was in the red, continuing a weekend slump that erased much of last week’s gains.

Altcoins bore the brunt of the downturn. XRP and Cardano’s ADA dropped 5%, while Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE) each declined between 2% and 3%. The CoinDesk 20 Index, which tracks top digital assets, fell 2.6% over the past 24 hours.

Despite the negative price action, Bitcoin ETFs reported strong inflows, totaling $196 million last week, according to SoSoValue. Ethereum ETFs, on the other hand, saw $8 million in outflows.

Global equities weren’t spared. Asia-Pacific markets opened lower, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 shedding 3.8%, South Korea’s KOPSI down 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index falling 1.7%. Export-heavy economies are bracing for potential fallout from the U.S. tariffs, especially as market access concerns grow.

Meanwhile, U.S. and European stock index futures pointed to a weaker open. Investors shifted into safe havens—gold reached a record high, and Treasury yields dropped as demand surged.

Cautious sentiment is also creeping into the crypto sector. According to Tokenomist.ai, token unlocks worth $751.2 million are expected this week, including releases from SUI and DYDX. May is set to bring a much larger batch, with $4.4 billion in token unlocks on the horizon.

As macro uncertainty builds and April approaches, traders across all asset classes are treading lightly, unsure of what the next catalyst—positive or negative—might bring.