Crypto Market Mixed: Bitcoin Rises to $81K, XRP and ADA Stumble as Tariff Concerns Loom

Bitcoin Holds Ground at $81.5K While Altcoins Tumble as Markets Brace for Tariff Shock

The crypto market started the week on a cautious note, with Bitcoin (BTC) hovering around $81,500 in early Monday trading, while altcoins slid under pressure amid growing macroeconomic concerns and the looming threat of new U.S. trade tariffs.

The broader crypto market followed suit. XRP and Cardano’s ADA led losses with a sharp 5% drop over the past 24 hours. Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE) were not far behind, falling between 2% and 3%. The CoinDesk 20 Index, which tracks the top digital assets, dipped 2.6%.

Bitcoin ETFs continued to attract capital, pulling in $196 million in inflows last week, according to SoSoValue. Meanwhile, Ethereum-focused ETFs recorded $8 million in outflows, suggesting investor sentiment remains mixed across crypto assets.

Traditional markets mirrored the unease. Asian indices opened deep in the red—Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell nearly 3.8%, South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slid 1.7%. Futures for U.S. and European equities also pointed to a soft open, as investors nervously await President Donald Trump’s anticipated tariff announcement on April 2.

Gold surged to a new all-time high, and U.S. Treasury yields declined, reflecting a flight to safety amid growing geopolitical and economic tension. Portfolio managers are scaling back risk, avoiding big bets as uncertainty hangs over the global economy.

In crypto, another headwind is the ongoing token unlock cycle. Tokenomist.ai reports that around $751 million worth of tokens—including SUI and DYDX—are set to be released this week. May will see an even larger wave, with $4.4 billion worth of unlocks projected, potentially adding further selling pressure.

As both traditional and crypto markets navigate choppy waters, all eyes are on Washington for the next macro trigger.

About The Author

ctleditor

See author's posts