Bitcoin Whales Return to the Spotlight as President Trump Pauses Key Tech Tariffs

Bitcoin surged back into the spotlight this weekend after President Trump unexpectedly announced a 90-day pause on key tech tariffs

President Trump's unexpected 90-day pause on key tech tariffs announced Wednesday appears to have massively sparked risk appetite across the crypto market, with Bitcoin surging back into the spotlight this weekend.

The move, which exempts products like smartphones, computer chips, and other critical components from previously announced 125% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports, has already seen a huge shift in activity from BTC whales.

According to on-chain analytics platform Santiment, the number of wallets holding 10 or more BTC has shot up by 132 in just 24 hours, a strong indicator that high-stake investors are returning to the market.

"Bitcoin’s whales and sharks are growing in number, indicating a sudden shift after Trump implemented his 90-day tariff pause yesterday," Santiment shared on Thursday. "This suggests a higher level of confidence from crypto’s key stakeholders."

The tariff exemptions, covering around $390 billion in imports including over $100 billion from China, were designed to give U.S. companies time to shift their supply chains away from China.

For major tech firms like Apple and Nvidia, this provides short-term relief from what was shaping up to be a supply chain disaster. Prior to the exemption, Apple alone had seen its market value decline by more than $640 billion amid investor concerns over rising production costs and inflated consumer prices.

But it’s not just the tech sector showing signs of recovery. Bitcoin broke through the $83,000 mark within hours of the announcement, pulling back slightly on Thursday before continuing its bullish run through Friday and into Saturday.

This rally is being reinforced by strong social buzz, particularly around the words "exemption" and "tariffs," showcasing how closely market sentiment is following policy moves.

Crypto markets have traditionally mirrored the performance of high-growth tech stocks, often grouped together as the 'innovation' asset class. Both sectors tend to take a hit when trade war fears escalate, as noted by Santiment analyst BrainQ. However, as those fears subside, capital tends to flow back into both tech and crypto simultaneously.

This surge in confidence isn't just limited to the direct impact on the crypto sector. The tariff exemption also included semiconductor components, an integral part of the crypto ecosystem used in mining and blockchain development.

Securing a stable supply and cost-effective access to these chips will support the industry's broader infrastructure.

That said, while trading activity remains elevated and whales appear to be accumulating, broader public sentiment is just beginning to catch up, likely due to lower news tracking over the weekend.

However, with Wall Street closed until Monday, many anticipate a rally in tech stocks, which could further boost Bitcoin and altcoins in the coming days.

For now, all eyes are on how long this bullish momentum can last before crowd FOMO either accelerates or abruptly cools the rally.

BTC was trading at $83,455 at press time, indicating a 2.77% surge in the past 24 hours.