Bitcoin Crashes Through $80K Mark as Nasdaq Nosedives 5% on Rising China-U.S. Trade Pressures

Bitcoin Retreats Below $80K as Tariff Turmoil Roils Markets; Gold Hits Fresh Highs Amid Flight to Safety

Financial markets were back under pressure Thursday as renewed geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policy dynamics triggered a broad-based risk-off move. Bitcoin (BTC), which briefly reclaimed upward momentum midweek, fell over 4% to trade below $80,000, mirroring renewed losses in equities.

The Nasdaq Composite shed 5.5%, retracing much of its prior day’s 12% rebound, as investors reassessed the implications of escalating tariff measures under the Trump administration.

The sell-off intensified following social media reports suggesting the total tariff rate on Chinese goods had risen to 145%, higher than the previously stated 125%. The increase stems from a White House executive order raising “reciprocal” tariffs to 125%, combined with a 20% tariff already imposed on fentanyl-related imports.

Crypto equities bore the brunt of investor jitters:

• MicroStrategy (MSTR) dropped 11.2%
• Coinbase (COIN) declined 8.1%
• Marathon Digital (MARA) fell 9.3%

China responded swiftly, vowing to cut imports of U.S. films — a symbolic yet strategic measure that could signal deeper retaliatory steps ahead.

As equities and crypto assets faltered, gold surged 3% to hit a new record high of $3,168, underscoring heightened demand for safe-haven assets. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) slipped below 101, extending its retreat and reversing all gains since November — now down 9% from its January peak.

“The macro backdrop is increasingly unstable,” said Kirill Kretov, senior analyst at CoinPanel.
“This is a politically sensitive moment. Rapid shifts in trade policy are injecting volatility into markets and complicating the Fed’s already delicate balancing act.”

With inflation risks colliding with geopolitical stressors, investors may face an extended period of uncertainty — one where positioning defensively could remain the dominant strategy.

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