President Donald Trump has ignited a global trade war, disrupting markets and erasing billions in value overnight.
On Tuesday, the US imposed sweeping tariffs: 25% on all Mexican imports, 25% on most Canadian goods—except energy, which faces a 10% levy—and 20% on various Chinese products.
Declaring an end to negotiations, Trump signalled a hardline stance.
In response, Canada retaliated with 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of US exports.
Asian tech stocks plummeted following the trade war announcement, with Nvidia dropping 9% and Japan’s Advantest hitting its lowest level since October.
Renesas Electronics fell 6.35%, while South Korea’s SK Hynix lost 3.26%.
In China, Alibaba slipped 2.23%, Kingsoft Cloud tumbled 8.46%, and EV giant BYD declined 6.6%.
SoftBank plunged 6.25%, despite CEO Masayoshi Son’s reported $16 billion AI investment plans.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) also shed 2% after Trump announced its $100 billion US expansion.
The S&P 500 is under pressure, marking its worst decline since 18 December and teetering on a key 200-day moving average.
A further breakdown could trigger more market turmoil.
Oil prices slumped as investors fled to safer assets, with gold surging 10% since January.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin has fallen 10% year-to-date.
European markets, however, are charting a different course.
The Stoxx 600 outperformed the S&P 500 in February as investors shifted toward defense stocks, anticipating further market volatility under Trump’s policies.
Crypto investors are facing a brutal downturn.
On Sunday, Trump’s announcement of a US Crypto Reserve sent the market soaring, with total capitalisation jumping from $2.7 trillion to $3.1 trillion in hours.
But the euphoria was short-lived.
By Monday night, the market had reversed sharply, shedding $500 billion in just 24 hours—one of the fastest crashes on record—bringing valuations $100 billion below pre-announcement levels.
Bitcoin, which surged past $90,000 after Trump’s news, has plunged to $83,520, down 9.01% in a day.
Ethereum fell 12.52% to $2,077, while XRP, Solana, and Cardano tumbled 13.27%, 16.02%, and 20.03%, respectively in the last 24 hours.
Institutional investors have been quick to exit, pulling a record $2.6 billion from crypto funds in late February—the largest outflow ever, surpassing 2024’s record by $500 million.
The rapid reversal underscores the fleeting impact of Trump’s announcement, as investors shift their focus from hype to harsh market realities.
A Bank of America survey reveals that 42% of investors now view the trade war as the greatest threat to risk assets in 2025, a sharp increase from 30% in January.
Confidence in Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset remains low, with only 3% expecting it to outperform in a full-blown trade war—far behind the US dollar (15%) and gold (58%).
Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs’ volatility panic index, which stood at 1.4 in December, has surged to 9.1 and is nearing 10, signalling heightened market turbulence ahead.
The US effective tariff rate is set to reach its highest level since the Great Depression, and the pressure is mounting. https://www.coinlive.com/news/president-donald-trump-ruffles-international-feathers-eyes-10-tariffs-on
Next on the list: a 25% tariff on the European Union.
Crypto analysts anticipate Bitcoin could dip to $70,000–$75,000 before regaining bullish momentum.
Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes remains confident in the ongoing bull cycle but suggests Bitcoin’s worst-case floor could align with its previous cycle’s peak of $70,000.
Popular crypto analyst KALEO also reiterated the stand saying:
“…after the type of wick we saw across the board for BTC and alts earlier (major move up + full retrace) it shouldn’t be surprising if another leg down to the mid 70s for Bitcoin.”
Experts urge investors to remain patient and avoid panic selling.
Popular analyst Michael van de Poppe noted:
“Most of the altcoins are giving back their gains against Bitcoin today. Why? People want to get out, that’s why they sell on every bump upwards and that’s why things will take time. Just be patient.”
Meanwhile, optimism for an altcoin rally has faded, with market sentiment hitting rock bottom despite high expectations at the start of the year.
As tensions escalate, the question remains: How deep will the economic fallout go?
Cardano’s Midnight sidechain will distribute tokens to 37 million users across eight major blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, in one of the largest airdrops in blockchain history. The airdrop, called the Glacier Drop, will issue NIGHT and DUST tokens and aims to promote privacy in decentralized finance.
AnaisPakistan is planning to use its surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres to boost economic growth. Binance's Changpeng Zhao has been appointed as an advisor to help guide the country's crypto development and regulatory framework.
AnaisVirgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer, was arrested in 2019 for giving a lecture in North Korea on blockchain technology, violating US sanctions. After serving over three years, he was released in April 2025 and is now transitioning to parole while facing post-prison restrictions.
AnaisWFP USA is now accepting over 80 cryptocurrencies for donations to support its Emergency Hunger Relief Fund, targeting $25 million to aid 58 million people facing starvation. This move aims to modernise fundraising, reduce transaction fees, and speed up donations to tackle the global hunger crisis.
WeatherlyUS stock and crypto markets jumped after the president announced a 90-day tariff pause for all countries except China, now facing a 125% levy. Over 75 nations have entered trade talks to avoid escalation. Trump sparked controversy, claiming leaders are “calling us up, kissing my ass” for deals. As tensions rise, could this bold or stupid trade strategy trigger a financial crisis?
CatherineStrategy may be forced to sell some of its Bitcoin if prices drop further, despite Michael Saylor’s long-time promise to never sell. A new SEC filing revealed financial pressure from debt and falling markets could break the company’s “HODL” stance.
WeatherlyJanover, a commercial real estate platform, raised $42 million through convertible notes and warrants, with backing from Pantera Capital, Kraken, and Arrington Capital. The company plans to invest heavily in Solana (SOL) and integrate blockchain into real estate finance under new leadership from former Kraken executives.
WeatherlySolana has launched ‘Confidential Balances’ on its mainnet, allowing token transfers, balances, and supply data to be hidden using zero-knowledge proofs. The system supports privacy while offering optional oversight for regulators, aiming to attract institutional use.
WeatherlyZKasino’s exploit wallet suffered a $27 million loss in Ether after a leveraged position was liquidated, leaving investors still empty-handed nearly a year later. This turn of events raises questions about karmic justice in the crypto space.
CatherineThe price of Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies has just plunged to new lows over the weekend as the fallout from President Trump's reciprocal tariffs sends the global economy into disarray.
XingChiUntil now, cryptocurrency assets were considered indefinite-lived intangible assets under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
BrianOpenAI partners with Axel Springer to integrate AI into journalism, aiming to enhance news access and accuracy while navigating challenges of misinformation and the need for human oversight.
YouQuanHitachi and Concordium are developing a biometric crypto wallet in the proof-of-technology stage, enabling secure access through fingerprint or facial scans.
Hui XinThis stash, known as protocol owned liquidity (POL), belonged solely to Yearn's treasury and did not involve any user funds.
BrianAmidst a dynamic shift in the crypto exchange market, DEXs experience a surge in trading volumes while CEXs like Binance and Coinbase maintain a dominant market share.
YouQuanLine Next, the NFT subsidiary of Line, the Japanese messaging giant, successfully concluded a substantial $140 million funding round. Spearheaded by Crescendo Equity Partners, this investment stands out as the most substantial support for an Asian blockchain company this year.
JoySnapchat+ transforms creativity for 7 million users with AI features, offering enhanced images, instant snaps, and upgraded Dreams effects, marking strategic advances in engagement and growth.
Hui XinInvestors in Australia are counting losses in the wake of crypto investment schemes, such as HyperFund and HyperVerse, escaping regulatory scrutiny despite international alerts branding them as potential scams. The schemes, led by Sam Lee and Zijing "Ryan" Xu, founders of the now-collapsed Blockchain Global, have left thousands globally unable to withdraw funds. Concerns arise about Australia's regulatory role in warning investors and addressing high-risk schemes.
JoyKuCoin settles for $22 million, ending operations in New York to comply with regulations—a significant move in the crypto industry's compliance journey.
Hui XinFlutterwave expands its executive team with experienced hires from leading firms like Binance.US and PayPal, signalling ambitious global growth and a strategic shift in leadership.
YouQuan