Bitcoin gains 12%, mirrors gold as trade war, recession fears mount

  • Bitcoin gained 12% in two weeks to April 22, showing resilience amid US-China tariffs.
  • Observers note Bitcoin decoupling from stocks, behaving more like gold (safe haven).
  • US plans for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve potentially bolster its asset status (Nansen CEO).

Bitcoin has demonstrated notable strength in recent weeks, seemingly shrugging off the escalating trade tensions between the US and China that have unsettled broader financial markets.

This resilience, marked by a significant price increase, is fueling observations that the cryptocurrency is increasingly behaving like a traditional safe-haven asset, akin to gold, rather than mirroring the volatility often seen in tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq.

Divergence amid trade turmoil

In the two weeks leading up to April 22, Bitcoin registered a solid 12% price gain.

This upward movement occurred even as the trade dispute intensified, with the US imposing tariffs reported up to 125% on China, prompting reciprocal measures from Beijing.

Unlike many other assets sensitive to global trade disruptions, Bitcoin appeared relatively insulated, strengthening the argument for its potential role as a store of value during geopolitical uncertainty.

Alex Svanevik, CEO of crypto intelligence firm Nansen, highlighted this trend, noting Bitcoin’s apparent “decoupling” from traditional stock markets.

“Unlike altcoins and major indexes like the S&P 500, Bitcoin has remained relatively stable despite the global trade tensions,” Svanevik observed, according to the analysis.

However, he cautioned that while resilient to specific trade issues, Bitcoin remains susceptible to broader macroeconomic headwinds, particularly the growing fears of a potential economic recession.

Bolstering the safe-haven narrative: US reserve plans

Adding another layer to Bitcoin’s evolving status is the concept of a potential US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Plans outlined in a presidential executive order suggest the government intends to hold Bitcoin, initially comprising assets seized in criminal investigations.

More significantly, the order details potential future strategies for acquiring more Bitcoin, possibly funded through tariff revenues or by re-evaluating the Treasury’s gold certificates to generate surplus funds, potentially avoiding the need to sell existing gold reserves.

Svanevik believes such “regulatory developments will play a significant role in Bitcoin’s growth as a global asset,” potentially enhancing its legitimacy and appeal.

Recession shadow looms despite crypto gains

While Bitcoin charts its course, the macroeconomic outlook remains clouded. Concerns about a potential US recession are intensifying, acting as a significant counterweight to bullish sentiment in risk assets.

A recent report from JPMorgan notably increased its estimated probability of a US recession occurring in 2025 from 40% to 60%.

The report underscored that existing tariffs, particularly citing the high 145% tariff on China in this context, continue to pose a “significant threat to global growth.”

Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve is anticipated to begin easing monetary policy, likely starting in September 2025 with further rate cuts expected through January 2026.

While monetary easing could stimulate the economy, it might also influence demand dynamics for assets perceived as riskier, potentially including Bitcoin, depending on how investors weigh inflation hedges versus growth prospects.

Navigating an uncertain future

Bitcoin’s trajectory appears increasingly shaped by a complex interplay of factors.

Its resilience during the recent trade friction supports the narrative of it maturing into a gold-like store of value.

Continued institutional interest and potential government actions like the Strategic Reserve could further solidify this perception.

However, the looming threat of a broader economic downturn and ongoing regulatory developments, particularly in the US, remain critical variables.

As global economic anxieties persist, Bitcoin’s ability to maintain its appeal as a hedge against turbulence will be closely watched.

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BTC nears resistance zone as analysts flag potential pullback to $76,600

  • Key resistance zone flagged between $86,549 and $88,244.
  • MicroStrategy buys 6,556 BTC worth $555.8 million.
  • $90,000 is seen as a psychological and technical barrier.

Bitcoin has surged back to near $89,000, inching closer to its all-time high and setting the stage for what could be a significant breakout.

According to crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe, the flagship cryptocurrency is now approaching a crucial resistance band between $86,549 and $88,244.

This level has historically been difficult to breach, often leading to temporary corrections.

However, the current market sentiment, combined with macroeconomic cues like a potential US-China deal, is fuelling speculation about a fresh rally past $90,000.

In a tweet posted earlier this month, van de Poppe shared a technical chart highlighting Bitcoin’s rebound and its current position near a historical resistance level.

He suggested that Bitcoin may first dip to retest support at $80,982 before making another attempt at a breakout.

A further decline to $76,604 is also possible if current support fails to hold, marking a retest of a previous support level that could now act as resistance.

Bitcoin gains 1.5% as whale accumulation boosts sentiment

Bitcoin’s rise above $88,500 has been aided by strong accumulation from institutional players.

Notably, US-based corporate holder MicroStrategy recently acquired 6,556 BTC at a total cost of around $555.8 million.

The purchase comes amid growing interest in Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks, and appears to have given the market a confidence boost.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin gained 1.5% in the past 24 hours, adding to its 4.7% weekly gain.

The surge has also lifted overall crypto market capitalisation past $2.7 trillion.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Van de Poppe noted that despite nearing overbought territory, the market may remain bullish if Bitcoin consolidates above $88,000.

A sustained rally past $90,000 could open up a move towards new highs, while failure to maintain support around $80,000 could send prices lower.

Analyst warns of pullback to $76,604 if support fails

Technical indicators show that Bitcoin’s RSI is approaching critical levels, suggesting a temporary correction could occur.

Still, many traders are watching the $90,000 resistance level as the next major milestone.

If Bitcoin manages to flip $90,000 into support, it could mark a psychological and technical breakthrough.

Historically, this kind of pattern has led to rapid price discovery.

However, if momentum fades, the cryptocurrency may struggle to hold onto gains and revisit lower support zones.

Van de Poppe outlined that a correction to $76,604 would still be within healthy limits and could act as a springboard for a future rally.

The price level was previously a key support and remains one to watch in the near term.

Macro trends could support the Bitcoin push

On the macroeconomic front, van de Poppe hinted at the potential impact of global events.

In particular, signs of de-escalation between the US and China could reduce market anxiety, prompting increased risk appetite among investors.

Geopolitical calm, combined with institutional accumulation and favourable regulatory signals, may set the stage for Bitcoin to finally break through its upper resistance.

However, short-term volatility should not be ruled out, especially as the asset hovers near historically reactive zones.

As of 14 April, Bitcoin is trading just above $88,606.

All eyes are now on whether the world’s largest cryptocurrency can consolidate its gains and surge through $90,000 in the coming sessions.

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Bitcoin eyes $100K? Hayes cites treasury buybacks, weak dollar as catalysts

  • Bitcoin surged past $87,700, fueled by a weakening US dollar and potential US Treasury buybacks.
  • Arthur Hayes predicts Treasury buybacks could be a “bazooka,” pushing BTC past $100K (“last chance” below).
  • Weak dollar (lowest since March 2022) and rising gold correlation support Bitcoin’s appeal.

Bitcoin’s recent climb, momentarily cresting $87,700, is drawing significant attention, with prominent analysts pointing towards macroeconomic shifts and potential government actions as key drivers that could propel the cryptocurrency well beyond the $100,000 threshold.

The convergence of a weakening US dollar, anticipated US Treasury debt buybacks, and sustained institutional interest is painting an increasingly bullish picture for the digital asset.

Macro tailwinds: dollar dips, treasury ‘bazooka’ eyed

A primary factor supporting Bitcoin’s ascent is the declining value of the US dollar, which recently touched lows not seen since March 2022.

As the dollar weakens, assets like Bitcoin often become more appealing to global investors seeking a hedge against fiat currency devaluation.

Adding potent fuel to this narrative is the prospect of the US Treasury repurchasing its own debt.

Arthur Hayes, the influential co-founder of BitMEX and current CIO of Maelstrom, has highlighted this potential move as a significant catalyst.

He posited that upcoming Treasury buybacks could inject substantial liquidity into the financial system, effectively acting as a “bazooka” for Bitcoin’s price.

Hayes went so far as to suggest this period might represent the “last chance” for investors to acquire Bitcoin below the $100,000 mark, anticipating that these buybacks could easily push the price past that psychological barrier.

Technical signals and institutional trust bolster case

The bullish sentiment finds resonance in technical analysis and continued institutional adoption.

Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget Research, noted that Bitcoin’s price chart recently completed a “descending wedge breakout,” a technical pattern often interpreted as supportive of further upward movement.

This technical picture is complemented by Bitcoin’s growing correlation with gold, another traditional safe-haven asset, which itself has surged nearly 30% this year.

Furthermore, global institutional appetite for Bitcoin appears unwavering despite recent price volatility.

Reports indicate that investment firms, notably from Japan and the UK, have maintained their commitment, channeling capital into the cryptocurrency.

This sustained institutional inflow signals enduring confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value proposition.

Analysts eye six-figure targets amid fiat expansion

As Bitcoin tests resistance levels nearing $90,000, some analysts are setting their sights considerably higher.

Jamie Coutts of Real Vision forecasts that expanding fiat money supply (M2) could drive Bitcoin to as high as $132,000 by the end of the year.

This projection finds company with analysis from economist Timothy Peterson, who, citing historical market patterns, suggests Bitcoin could potentially reach $138,000 within the next three months.

Political pressures add fuel to the fire

The intricate macroeconomic picture is further complicated by the political landscape.

President Donald Trump’s public calls for the removal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have intensified market expectations of potential interest rate cuts.

Such cuts, aimed at stimulating the economy, would likely exert further downward pressure on the US dollar, potentially creating an even more favorable environment for Bitcoin’s price appreciation.

A note of caution amidst the bullish chorus

Despite the confluence of positive indicators, some market observers urge caution regarding short-term price action.

Analyst Michaël van de Poppe warned that weekend rallies can sometimes prove ephemeral and that Bitcoin might face a pullback before decisively conquering key resistance zones.

The $91,000 level is widely seen as the next significant hurdle.

Until Bitcoin firmly establishes itself above this mark, the possibility of short-term corrections remains.

Nonetheless, the combination of weakening fiat dynamics, anticipated liquidity injections via Treasury buybacks, robust institutional support, and supportive technical patterns creates a compelling narrative for Bitcoin’s continued ascent towards, and potentially well beyond, the $100,000 milestone.

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PepeX maintains upside momentum as Bitcoin, Solana dominate the majors

Bitcoin and Solana have emerged as top performers as crypto majors and meme tokens strive to recover. While investors shift to Bitcoin for its stability, Solana has become a key player in DEX trading.

At the same time, investors are on the look out for fresh projects with robust growth potential. PepeX, which has emerged as one of the top meme ICOs to watch out for in 2025, offers its holders an irresistible opportunity to rake in hefty gains during its presale and beyond. Its infrastructure seeks to restore transparency, fairness, and accessibility in the meme crypto space.

Bitcoin heightened dominance paves the way to $90,000

Bitcoin price began the new week on a high; rallying to a three-week high in early Monday session. Since hitting a five-month low two weeks ago, the crypto major has rebounded by about 17%. At the time of writing, it was trading at $87,488. 

Despite the persistent economic uncertainties, bulls are optimistic that Bitcoin price will soon retest the crucial zone of $90,000. CoinGecko’s 2025 Q1 crypto industry report showed that despite the drop in investor activity, Bitcoin’s dominance in the cryptocurrency space hit a level last recorded in early 2021 at 59.1%. 

Having rebounded past the 25 and 50-day EMAs, the bulls have an opportunity to retest the crucial support-turn-resistance zone of $90,000. However, the bulls will need to gather enough momentum to break the immediate-term resistance at $89,075. On the lower side, $82,959 is set to offer steady support to Bitcoin price. 

Bitcoin Price
Bitcoin Price

PepeX maintains upward momentum as it restores integrity in the meme crypto space 

AI-related cryptocurrencies have captured investors’ attention as they look past the majors for projects with robust growth potential. In the past 24 hours, AI meme market cap rose by 6.5% to $2.34 billion.

Notably, most of these fresh projects are moving past meme jokes to offer solutions to existing challenges within the crypto space. PepeX is one such crypto. As the world’s first AI-powered tokenization launchpad, it seeks to solve the persistent issues of security, fairness, and transparency. Indeed, it comes at an opportune time and investors are taking note of it. 

In the recent past, platforms like Pump.fun have allowed pump-and-dump schemes that saw investors lose hefty amounts of money. To solve this issue, PepeX has integrated anti-sniping tools and a bubble map tool to discourage early dumping and any shady launches. Besides, the creators’ holdings are capped at 5% of the total supply, which they could lose to its community should the project fail. 

This one-of-a-kind infrastructure has attracted the attention of meme coin enthusiasts, enabling it to raise over $1.4 million just four weeks into its presale. In addition to its real-world use case and subsequent growth potential, early adopters have an opportunity to rake in huge gains during the 30-stage presale. 

With every three-day stage, the token price increases by 5%. What started at $0.02 is currently at $0.0243 and is set to rally further to $0.0823 before the token hits the public shelves in Q3. Read more on how to buy PepeX.

Solana dominance in DEX trading fuels recovery

Solana Price Chart
Solana Price Chart

In the recent months, altcoins and meme coins have been under selling pressure. However, as the assets find their footing, Solana has emerged as one of the top performers. 

Notably, its dominance in the decentralized exchange (DEX) space has fueled its recovery. As highlighted by CoinGecko, Solana dominated DEX trades at a rate of 39.6% in Q1’25. 

A look at its daily chart shows Solana price trading above the 25 and 50-day EMAs. In the short term, I expect $126.90 to be a steady support zone as the bulls strive to break the resistance at $144.50. If successful, the next target will be at $155. 

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Why Bitcoin ETFs are seeing outflows even as BTC price recovers

  • $812M has left Bitcoin ETFs in April despite Bitcoin price recovery post‑tariff pause.
  • Institutions are shifting to bonds and AI/tech funds amid risk‑off sentiment.
  • Regulatory delays and media FUD also fuel cautious ETF positioning.

Bitcoin ETFs have registered significant fund withdrawals even as spot Bitcoin (BTC) price regained ground following President Trump’s 90‑day suspension of reciprocal tariffs.

The temporary tariff relief helped stabilize global markets, fueling a Bitcoin price rebound that saw it climb back toward the mid‑$80,000s.

However, institutional investors have continued to pull money out of spot Bitcoin ETFs, culminating in a dramatic $171.10 million net outflow on April 17, according to Coinglass data.

The most affected ETFs are Fidelity’s FBTC and ARK Invest’s ARKB, each of which has seen over $113 million in outflows.

BlackRock’s IBIT, however, continues to enjoy modest inflows with $30.60 million inflows as of April 17, 2025.

Bitwise’s BITB, VanEck’s HODL, and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) have also weathered the storm with $12.8M, $6.7M, $2.4M, and $3.4M inflows respectively.

Month‑to‑date flows show that more than $800 million departed Bitcoin ETFs in early April, following $767 million in March.

This extended streak of weekly outflows eclipses even the heaviest withdrawal phases seen since these products debuted in January 2024.

Why the huge Bitcoin ETFs outflows?

Notably, this trend underscores a broader risk‑off sentiment among professional investors reluctant to reallocate capital into volatile digital assets.

Surging US interest rates have rendered government bonds more appealing, prompting capital rotation out of crypto ventures.

Concurrently, profit‑taking after Bitcoin’s late‑2024 rally motivated holders to crystallize gains, dampening demand for ETF exposure.

Investors are also contending with fractured regulatory signals, as promised crypto‑friendly legislation remains stalled in Congress.

Confusion surrounding token unlock schedules for structured Bitcoin products exacerbates fears of sudden supply surges.

Moreover, strong inflows into AI and tech‑focused exchange‑traded funds have lured momentum‑driven capital away from crypto.

Persistent media rhetoric around a “Bitcoin ETF exodus” further compounds negative sentiment and amplifies withdrawal pressures.

Bitcoin miners have also felt the squeeze, with March profitability down 7.4% as average fees and prices cooled although leading miners like Marathon Digital and CleanSpark maintained robust production and expanding hash rates despite shrinking margins.

Tax‑loss harvesting strategies and quarter‑end portfolio rebalancing have also applied technical selling pressure on ETF shares.

The interplay of these forces paints a nuanced picture: spot Bitcoin prices can recover while ETF flows simultaneously languish.

Investors now face a delicate balancing act between capturing crypto’s upside potential and managing exposure to its inherent volatility.

A weaker US dollar amid shifting Federal Reserve forecasts has provided some tailwind for Bitcoin valuations in recent weeks.

However, the comparative stability and yield of US Treasuries continue to attract institutional allocations away from high‑beta crypto instruments.

As the market digests these divergent signals, the tug of war between price recovery and Bitcoin ETFs fund outflows may define next Bitcoin (BTC) maturation phase.

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