Bitcoin and Crypto Prices Crash as Fears of a Looming US Recession Grow

Bitcoin and crypto prices have moved sharply lower, following stock markets, as fears swirl the bitcoin price could be teetering on the verge of a major crash.

The price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies moved sharply lower on Wednesday, following trends in the stock market and as the macroeconomic environment continues to weigh on risk appetite.

The bitcoin price fell by 3.2% over the last 24 hours to trade at $79,100 per bitcoin by 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT). The world’s largest cryptocurrency has lost around $1 trillion of value since March 1, in an unrestrained rout that has seen the bitcoin price fall to lows of $70,000.

The latest drop in the bitcoin price came as chief executive of the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock warned that U.S. president Donald Trump’s trade policies will stoke inflation.

The Federal Reserve is expected to begin cutting interest rates through 2025, but economists at Goldman Sachs and Yardeni Research have signaled a possibility of a recession in the next 12 months due to Trump's administration's actions.

What Happened

Chief executive of the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock warned on Wednesday that inflation could make a come back in 2025, potentially hitting the bitcoin price and crypto market as the Federal Reserve dials back its planned interest rate cuts.

"I think if we all are becoming a little more nationalistic—and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, you know, it does resonate with me—that it’s going to have elevated inflation," BlackRock’s Larry Fink told CeraWeek conference attendees, it was reported by Reuters.

03/13 update: U.S. inflation has slowed to 2.8% in February from a year earlier, boosting the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates but failing to offset fears that U.S. president Donald Trump’s global tariff trade war will push up prices through 2025.

The latest consumer price index (CPI) reading came in below January’s 3% and the 2.9% expected by economists, according to a Reuters poll.

"Today’s lower-than-expected CPI should be bullish, signaling faster rate cuts, but crypto hasn't reacted strongly," Youwei Yang, chief economist at BIT Mining, said in emailed comments.

"Weeks of market fear require more than a single good print to regain confidence. The real issue is Trump’s aggressive tariffs, which risk making inflation stickier while also crashing markets and triggering layoffs, particularly by the Doge department of government efficiency. This puts the Fed in a bind: High inflation from tariffs makes rate cuts harder. Market crashes and job losses pressure the Fed to cut rates sooner. Cutting too early could reignite inflation, making future policy tougher. Stocks are bouncing back, but crypto remains sluggish. Investors want stronger support from the White House or Fed, especially after last week’s crypto summit failed to reassure markets. Until clearer signals emerge, fear and uncertainty will weigh on crypto market sentiment."

The latest U.S. inflation data in the form of the consumer price index (CPI) will drop on Wednesday, with consumer prices expected to have ticked up in February, according to Bloomberg, highlighting the Fed’s slow progress on battling inflation and potentially raising the specter of stagflation—characterized by an economic slowdown coupled with spiraling price rises.

"This market downturn is largely driven by broader economic concerns, including fears of a U.S. recession and persistent inflation," Sean Dawson, head of research at decentralized options trading platform Derive.xyz, said in emailed comments.

“The market is facing significant challenges as the macroeconomic environment worsens, and crypto assets are no exception. With bearish sentiment building, traders are turning to downside hedging strategies, especially as volatility surges across both traditional and crypto markets. The coming weeks will be critical for assessing how the broader economic situation impacts digital asset prices and trading behavior."