The U.S. raises tariffs on China to 30% and ignites a new race towards Bitcoin and digital gold
Hot tariffs: Washington's new move
In a move that has shaken global markets, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30% increase in tariffs on products from China, reigniting tensions in a trade war that seemed dormant. China's response, so far, has been moderate, raising its tariffs only to 10%, although analysts anticipate scaled retaliations in technology and agricultural areas.
For Mohamed El-Erian, chief economist of Allianz and one of the most influential analysts in the financial world: “We are entering an era of competing economic blocs, where hard and non-sovereign assets like Bitcoin begin to appear more stable than some fiat currencies.”
Crypto assets: silent winners in confrontation scenarios
Every time the U.S. and China clash, traditional markets become more volatile. Cryptocurrencies, led by Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), have historically served as a refuge in the face of aggressive monetary policies and geoeconomic conflicts. According to data from CoinShares, in the 24 hours following Bessent's announcement, there were net inflows of over $190 million into institutional crypto funds.
This also reinforces the argument of investors like Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital:
“When the traditional financial system shakes due to political decisions, Bitcoin remains a solid, free, and global alternative.”
Global risks, decentralized refuges
The increase in tariffs not only affects international trade: it has a direct impact on consumer prices, generates inflationary pressure in the U.S., and sharpens the progressive dedollarization of emerging markets. In this scenario, decentralized assets not subject to state policies begin to gain ground as a strategic option.
Even Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has pointed out on multiple occasions that “cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, could play a fundamental role in the future reconfiguration of the global economic order.”
