Bitcoin Plummets Below £66,929 ($88,000) as Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs Rattle Markets

Bitcoin plummeted below £66,929 ($88,000) on 2 April 2025, as US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, unveiled in a dramatic White House Rose Garden speech on 2 April, have triggered a major plummet in bitcoin (BTC) below £66,929 ($88,000).

As the crypto market shed over £157 million ($200 million) in hours, traders are reeling from the shockwaves. By 3 April, this tariff-driven chaos has sparked fears of a broader bitcoin price crash, despite earlier optimism tied to Trump's crypto-friendly stance.

Trump's tariff rollout, slapping a 10% levy on Australian exports, 15% on 15 other countries, and 25% on foreign cars to 'level the playing field' for U.S. industries, has sparked a chain reaction.

Bitcoin, which hovered near £69,291 ($91,000) ahead of the speech, crashed to £64,567 ($85,000) within hours. '[Trump's "Liberation Day"] is an atomic bomb on markets—crypto isn't safe short-term,' said Zach Burks, CEO of Mintology, in comments reported by sources.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.5% as Trump's move sparked fears of increased inflation and a stronger dollar, squeezing risk assets like bitcoin.

The tariffs, targeting high-value trade like Australia's £1.2 billion ($1.58 billion) beef exports, will escalate prices and the dollar, while the Federal Reserve's reluctance to cut interest rates—highlighted by Chair Jerome Powell's 2 April remarks about a 'bumpy path' to 2% inflation—will erode confidence in risk assets.

This contrasts with Trump's crypto pivot, previously seen as a boon with his World Liberty Financial venture and bitcoin reserve talk.

'It's becoming clearer bitcoin is the retail doomsday asset, while gold is the institutional haven,' Burks added. The crash wiped out gains from a post-inauguration surge past £86,614 ($114,000), exposing bitcoin's vulnerability to macroeconomic shifts.

However, some analysts find hope amid the wreckage. While tariffs trigger 'mass drop-offs' now, bitcoin could 'rocket long-term' as global trade rules rewrite capital flows, Burks asserted.

Moreover, institutional investors might shift from 'unstable US-led institutions' to crypto if the administration continues its protectionist policies, pivoting to decentralized finance (DeFi) for stability.

Amid the wreckage of President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs that sparked a major crash in bitcoin (BTC) on 2 April, some crypto analysts are suggesting that the cryptocurrency could still see a long-term surge despite the immediate sell-off.

As reported by PointLogix, the price of bitcoin plummeted from around £69,291 ($91,000) before the president's speech to a low of £64,567 ($85,000) in the hours after the announcement of the tariffs. The tariffs, which will see a 10% rate on Australian exports, 15% on 15 other countries, and 25% on foreign cars, are set to increase inflation and the strength of the dollar, negatively impacting risk assets like bitcoin.

The news also comes as the Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting later this week, despite calls for a rate cut to help the economy.

"It’s becoming clearer bitcoin is the retail doomsday asset, while gold is the institutional haven. We're seeing a shift in macroeconomic thinking, with Trump's administration pivoting to tariffs and protectionism," said Zach Burks, CEO of Mintology.

"If inflation persists and retail investors flee fiat currency for bitcoin's fixed supply, we might witness a return to crypto in the second half of the year. It largely depends on how Trump's administration handles the fallout and whether we'll see any moves like tax incentives or crypto-focused policies from his administration."

The administration officials, including crypto czar David Sacks, are working on policies to soften the blow of the tariffs, PointLogix noted. These policies could include new tax breaks for cryptocurrency traders or clearer regulations for the industry, but no firm plans have been announced yet.

The broader market context also spells trouble for bitcoin. Treasury yields are rising, and Goldman Sachs economists have warned of a looming recession, which could further spook investors.

The new tariffs will also likely lead to higher costs for bitcoin miners in China, as the administration's measures include tariffs on Chinese-made semiconductor equipment, a key input for bitcoin mining hardware.

However, bitcoin has historically recovered well from policy-induced dips, especially if the administration less