Crypto News; Crypto Market Sell-Off Deepens as Trump Tariff Threats Trigger Global Risk-Off

Key takeawaysRising US and Japanese bond yields signal mounting macro stress, dragging total crypto market cap 32% below its October 2025 peak.Bitcoin and Ether revisit two-week lows as investors de-risk amid tariff escalation fears.Gold and silver outperform as markets rotate toward traditional safe havens.The cryptocurrency market extended its sell-off on Tuesday as investors reacted to renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, triggering a broader risk-off move across global markets.Bitcoin and Ether fell back to their lowest levels in more than two weeks as crypto traders digested rising geopolitical tensions tied to Washington’s standoff with Europe over Greenland. The proposed tariffs — aimed at pressuring Denmark to reconsider control of the territory — have so far met firm resistance from European leaders, raising fears of a prolonged trade confrontation.The risk aversion spread quickly across asset classes. The S&P 500 slid 1.9%, while gold surged to a fresh all-time high as investors sought safety. Total cryptocurrency market capitalization dropped to $2.71 trillion, down from nearly $3 trillion just one week earlier, according to market data.Bond yields flash macro warning signalsMacro stress intensified as sovereign bond yields climbed sharply. The US five-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level in nearly six months — a move often associated with recession concerns or rising inflation expectations, as investors demand higher compensation to hold government debt.Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warned that the global economy may be entering a “new phase of financial conflict,” telling CNBC that geopolitical disputes increasingly risk spilling beyond trade into capital flows and asset allocation decisions.Dalio has previously cautioned that confidence in US assets — including the dollar — could weaken during periods of fiscal strain. While such narratives often support the long-term case for digital assets, precious metals have so far captured the inflows. Silver has climbed roughly 64% since December, lifting its market capitalization to around $5.3 trillion.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added to market tension on Tuesday, stating that any EU response to US measures would be “unflinching, united, and proportional,” reinforcing concerns about broader economic spillovers.Crypto market loses ground to global assetsBitcoin currently ranks as the world’s eighth-largest tradable asset, with a market capitalization near $1.8 trillion. However, large corporates such as Saudi Aramco and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company continue to narrow the gap.Ether’s position appears more vulnerable. With a market value near $360 billion, ETH has slipped to roughly 42nd place globally, falling behind companies including Home Depot and Netflix.Overall, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization remains about 32% below its October 2025 peak, underscoring the scale of the ongoing correction.Japan bond shock adds to global contagion fearsInvestor unease has also been amplified by developments in Japan. Yields on 20-year Japanese government bonds surged to record highs on Tuesday, reigniting concerns over fiscal sustainability in one of the world’s most indebted economies.Japan’s public debt exceeds 200% of GDP, and speculation over a snap election — which could grant Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a mandate to expand stimulus — has unsettled bond markets, according to the Financial Times.TD Securities warned that the spike in Japanese yields has already spilled over into US, UK and Canadian bond markets, calling it a “warning sign” that global bond markets can reprice rapidly when fiscal credibility is questioned.Bitcoin recovery hinges on geopoliticsWith bond markets under strain and geopolitical tensions escalating, cryptocurrencies remain exposed to macro-driven volatility.For now, Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim the $95,000 level — and Ether’s prospects of revisiting $3,300 — appear heavily dependent on whether President Trump can reach some form of compromise with European leaders during high-level talks scheduled this week.Until clearer political or monetary signals emerge, analysts say crypto markets are likely to remain defensive, trading in reaction to global macro developments rather than internal fundamentals.