$BTC

Former President Donald Trump’s new tariff plans have sparked major market volatility, revealing a notable divergence between Bitcoin and traditional equities. Here's a streamlined breakdown of Bitcoin’s relative performance and what it means going forward.

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1. Market Reaction Snapshot

Stocks Tumble:

U.S. markets saw a dramatic sell-off, with the S&P 500 losing $3.5 trillion on April 4 and $5 trillion across two days—the worst since March 2020. Tech stocks like Apple and Tesla led the drop.

Bitcoin’s Dip and Recovery:

Bitcoin surged to $88,000 before falling to $81,500–$82,000 post-announcement, but quickly rebounded to $84,720, outperforming equities during the crash.

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2. Bitcoin’s Decoupling?

Bitcoin declined just 3.7% versus stocks’ 10%, holding above key support and suggesting growing perception as a macro hedge.

Unlike 2018’s trade war, Bitcoin didn’t move in lockstep with stocks—hinting at evolving investor confidence in its unique fundamentals.

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3. Institutional Flows & Macro Forces

ETF Inflows: Spot Bitcoin ETFs, especially BlackRock’s, saw $218 million in inflows amid the chaos.

Fed Warning: Powell flagged tariffs as inflationary, potentially increasing Bitcoin’s appeal.

Regulatory Overhang: Institutional growth is limited by unclear crypto regulation, keeping markets retail-heavy.

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4. “Digital Gold” Narrative Strengthens

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Bitcoin a growing “store of value.”

While gold is up 15% YTD, Bitcoin’s rebound reinforces its role as a modern safe haven.

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5. Looking Ahead

Target Price: Analysts project Bitcoin could hit $132,000 by late 2025 if monetary easing and institutional interest continue.

Risks: Ongoing trade tensions and market volatility could challenge Bitcoin’s resilience in the short term.

Quick Takeaways

Bitcoin held up better than stocks, fueling its hedge narrative.

Institutional flows and inflation concerns are key bullish drivers.

Long-term potential remains strong, but near-term risks persist.