A thaw in trade tensions between Washington and Beijing sent shockwaves through the crypto market — Bitcoin briefly dropped below $108K before bouncing past $110K, wiping out more than $1.1B in leveraged positions.
After a high-profile U.S.–China summit in Seoul, Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to roll back select tariffs — a move that instantly rippled through global markets.
Bitcoin, long treated as a barometer for macro uncertainty, reacted violently: plunging below $108,000, then rebounding above $110,000 as the details of the agreement emerged.
The swing liquidated over $1.1 billion in leveraged positions, exposing how tightly Bitcoin’s short-term moves are tied to macro headlines — not blockchain fundamentals.
“Bitcoin’s sub-$108K dip reflects market sensitivity to trade risk, even in a Fed-easing environment,” said one crypto strategist.
Tariff Reductions — Average U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods drop from 57% to 47%, with fentanyl-related imports taxed at just 10%.
Tech Collaboration — Beijing agrees to re-open dialogue with Nvidia over chip exports and AI research.
Rare Earths — A one-year pact ensures smoother mineral supply chains — critical for EV and semiconductor industries.
Geopolitical Cooperation — Washington and Beijing will coordinate policy on the Russia–Ukraine conflict, signaling cautious diplomatic re-alignment.
Next Step — President Trump plans to visit China in April 2026, calling the meeting “a 12 out of 10.”
Bitcoin’s connection to global macro events isn’t new. When Trump reimposed tariffs last October, BTC crashed from $121K to $110K within hours. The logic: higher trade friction = stronger dollar = weaker crypto risk appetite.
Even after the Fed’s latest rate cut, which typically boosts BTC sentiment, traders dumped positions on uncertainty around the pace of tariff rollbacks — proving that macro still drives crypto.
According to CoinGlass data:
The flush signals a classic “leverage cleanse” before potential upside — but also warns that over-extended longs are still dominating the market.
If U.S.–China negotiations progress toward a comprehensive trade pact, Bitcoin could stabilize above $110K and potentially test $115K in coming weeks.
But any reversal — new tariffs, political tension, or Fed hawkishness — could quickly drag BTC back below $108K.
In short: macro diplomacy is now crypto’s volatility trigger.
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