Bitcoin Slides Below $76K Mark

CRYPTO
Bitcoin Slides Below $76K Mark

Bitcoin dropped below $76,000 as markets reeled from a sharp sell-off triggered by President Trump’s aggressive new global tariffs. As of 4:04 a.m. EDT, Bitcoin was trading at $75,756, down 4.65% in 24 hours. The cryptocurrency is now down 15% in 2025 and 28% off its January all-time high. Investors dumped risk assets over the weekend, bracing for further turmoil after U.S. equities posted their worst two-day loss since 2020.

Bitcoin’s fall sparked over $247 million in long liquidations, while Ether saw $217 million wiped out. Ether and Solana also plunged around 12%. The tariffs, which apply to all imports and carry even steeper rates for major trade partners, have raised fears of a global recession. In just two sessions, global stocks lost $7.46 trillion in market value, including nearly $6 trillion in the U.S. alone. Without a clear crypto catalyst, Bitcoin continues to track with broader market sentiment.

FINANCE
Asia Markets Crash on Tariffs

Asian markets plunged Monday as investors reacted to President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs and his insistence that the U.S. needs “medicine” to fix its trade deficit. The Hang Seng Index dropped 12.5%, its worst decline since 2008, while Lenovo fell over 22%. China’s CSI 300 fell 7.1%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 7.8%, and Taiwan halted trading after a 9.7% crash triggered circuit breakers.

U.S. tech-linked markets are poised for further losses, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures down nearly 5%. Despite fears of a global recession, Trump and his team signaled no intent to delay the tariffs. China hit back with its own 34% tariffs and export controls on rare earths, while launching new investigations into U.S. firms. Beijing is also pushing for domestic consumption to offset the impact. Meanwhile, countries like Japan and South Korea plan to negotiate exemptions, while others, like the Philippines, see an opportunity to gain market share.

FINANCE
Trump Tariffs Highest Since 1872

President Trump’s new tariffs could push the effective U.S. rate as high as 30%, the highest in over 150 years, according to UBS analysts. The current rate has already jumped from 2.5% pre-election to 25% following Trump’s "Liberation Day" tariffs. With added duties—34% on China and 20% on the EU—UBS expects further escalation if partners retaliate. Some previously exempt imports could soon face scrutiny. However, UBS predicts tariffs will ease by late 2025, falling to 10–15% as individual countries pursue deals.

Vietnam has already offered to remove all U.S. import tariffs, and over 50 countries have contacted the White House for talks. Political pressure, business lobbying, and legal challenges could also push Trump to negotiate. UBS expects sluggish U.S. GDP growth under 1% in 2025, with a brief recession mid-year. They also cut their S&P 500 year-end target to 5,800, down from 6,400, though they believe trade “off-ramps” remain possible.

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.