Bitcoin (BTC) Price Enters April 2025 on Uncertain Footing After Dramatic Rise and Fall Earlier This Year

Bitcoin is entering April 2025 on uncertain footing after a dramatic rise and fall earlier this year. Bitcoin Price soared to an all-time high

Bitcoin is entering April 2025 on uncertain footing after a dramatic rise and fall earlier this year. The Bitcoin Price soared to an all-time high during the euphoria of President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, then tumbled in the weeks that followed. Now, as the first quarter closes, market sentiment remains mixed with investors weighing whether a spring rebound or further volatility lies ahead.

Post-Inauguration Price Surge and Decline

Bitcoin jumped to a record level above $109,000 on Jan. 20, the day Trump was sworn in, buoyed by traders optimistic about the new administration’s pro-crypto promises. That rally proved short-lived. Within weeks, Bitcoin had fallen roughly 20% from its peak, dropping under the $90,000 mark. By late February it was trading around $88,000 – levels last seen before Trump’s election – as initial crypto euphoria gave way to a broad sell-off.

An exchange employee monitors a screen displaying cryptocurrency prices in Seoul, South Korea, in late 2024, when Bitcoin’s value was nearing $100,000. The token’s price later peaked above $109,000 on Inauguration Day 2025 before reversing sharply.

Multiple factors drove the reversal. On his first day in office, President Trump surprised markets by announcing new import tariffs, rattling investors and dampening risk appetite across the board. Hopes that Trump would immediately implement ultra-friendly crypto policies – such as creating a U.S. “bitcoin reserve” – also began to fade. “The market is disappointed with that,” said James Butterfill, head of research at asset manager CoinShares, noting that Trump ordered a crypto working group instead of direct government Bitcoin purchases.

Meanwhile, hawkish signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve added further headwinds, as rising interest rates made speculative assets less attractive.

By the end of February, Bitcoin had erased nearly all its post-election gains, and nearly $1 trillion in nominal value had been wiped from the overall crypto market since its December highs. Other cryptocurrencies fared even worse – for instance, Ether (ETH) fell over 40% from its peak – underscoring the breadth of the downturn. “The initial excitement surrounding the Trump administration’s perceived pro-crypto stance appears to be in a phase of recalibration,” observed Gabe Selby, Head of Research at CF Benchmarks.

Analysts say investors had to reset overly lofty expectations as Trump’s early crypto moves, while symbolic, delivered no immediate boom to prices.

Market Sentiment in Late March

As of late March, Bitcoin has steadied in the mid-$80,000s after finding support earlier in the month. The cryptocurrency briefly rebounded above $86,000 in mid-March amid encouraging macroeconomic signals – including the Fed’s decision to pause interest rate hikes – and fresh pledges from Trump to make the U.S. a “Bitcoin superpower”. That bump helped Bitcoin break a four-month downtrend, technically speaking, and reclaim key long-term moving averages that traders view as bullish indicators. “Bitcoin has most recently daily closed above the 200 EMA… testing it again into new support,” noted analyst Rekt Capital on March 20, pointing to improving momentum.

Even so, investor sentiment remains cautious. Ongoing global trade tensions – sparked by Trump’s tariff threats – and lack of clarity on U.S. crypto policy are keeping many traders on edge. “Global tariff concerns are the biggest driver at this moment,” explained Nicolai Søndergaard, a research analyst at Nansen, who expects risk assets may “lack direction until the tariff-related concerns are resolved” around early April. High interest rates are another damper. “We’re waiting for the Fed to see proper ‘bad news'” before they will really start cutting rates, Søndergaard added, suggesting the Federal Reserve’s stance will continue to pressure risk appetite until rate cuts are on the horizon.

Market data reflects this wariness. After reaching “Extreme Greed” levels late last year, the popular Crypto Fear & Greed Index has now swung to “Extreme Fear” territory – recently measuring around 15 on its scale. That indicates many investors have become defensive, with some locking in profits or losses amid the volatility. “Recent buyers are realizing significant losses, highlighting the exceptionally challenging conditions for newer investors,” noted analysts at exchange Bitfinex, as Bitcoin’s price hovering ~25% below its peak has put latecomers in the red.

Still, on-chain metrics show long-term holders remain confident: roughly 63% of Bitcoin supply has not moved in over a year, a sign that “HODLers” are sitting tight through the turbulence.

Expert Predictions for April 2025

Looking ahead to April, crypto market experts are divided on