Bitcoin rebounds above $80,000 after a sharp drop amid U.S. tariff tensions. Explore expert analysis, technical signals like the “death cross,” institutional resilience, and what to watch next for crypto markets.
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, surged back above the $80,000 level on Tuesday, recovering from a five-month low as traders bought the dip.
However, investor sentiment remains fragile in light of escalating trade tensions driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.
Bitcoin Rises Amid Market Rebound
By 09:31 ET (13:31 GMT) today, Bitcoin had gained 2.4% to trade at $80,285. This followed a volatile weekend during which the digital asset plunged to lows near $74,420, shedding over $10,000 in value as fears of a tariff-induced global recession sent shockwaves through financial markets.
At 7:32 AM on April 8, data from CoinMarketCap placed Bitcoin at $80,559.88, up 2.09% over the past day, with a market cap of $1.59 trillion and 24-hour trading volume of $88.59 billion.
While broader markets, including major Wall Street indices and Asian equities, began to stabilize following Monday’s steep losses, the recovery remains tentative. U.S. stock index futures pointed higher in Asian trading, helping support Bitcoin’s rebound.
However, when this article was written that evening, the price of BTC had again fallen by 0.56% and was trading at $78,853.
Trump’s Tariffs and Market Uncertainty
The renewed volatility stems from President Trump’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs targeting major economies. These measures, exceeding prior market expectations, rattled investors and drove a flight from risk assets—including cryptocurrencies.
Over the weekend, Trump doubled down on his stance, threatening even steeper duties on Chinese imports unless Beijing backs down from its own retaliatory measures.
Further uncertainty looms as the tariffs are set to take effect on Wednesday. Additional threats include potential levies on pharmaceutical and semiconductor imports — sectors critical to global supply chains.
Technical Warning: Bitcoin Confirms ‘Death Cross’
Despite Tuesday’s bounce, technical indicators remain bearish. Bitcoin recently formed a “death cross,” a key signal that occurs when the 50-day moving average falls below the 200-day moving average.
This pattern often precedes short-term weakness, particularly in markets lacking strong bullish catalysts.
Investing.com data confirmed the crossover this week, suggesting that Bitcoin could remain under pressure unless macroeconomic conditions improve or significant bullish triggers emerge.
Adding to concerns, several long-term Bitcoin holders have recently moved their holdings onto exchanges — often a precursor to selling.
Institutional Resilience and a Changing Investor Base
Despite recent price weakness, some analysts point to a more resilient foundation for Bitcoin. According to Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani, Bitcoin’s 26% pullback — though steep—is considerably milder than past crypto crashes, which sometimes saw losses of 70% or more.
Chhugani attributes this stability to the growing presence of institutional capital, including ETFs and corporate treasury allocations, which now dominate retail participation.
He views Bitcoin as a “probabilistic gold”—offering higher liquidity and volatility than traditional safe-haven assets like physical gold.
Indeed, year-to-date ETF inflows remain positive at approximately $770 million, suggesting continued confidence among larger players.
Altcoins Follow Bitcoin’s Lead
Broader cryptocurrency markets mirrored Bitcoin’s partial recovery. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, climbed over 5% to $1,569, rebounding from a two-year low.
Solana, Cardano, Polygon, and XRP posted gains between 8% and 13%. Meme coins also saw movement, with Dogecoin soaring more than 9% and the politically-themed $TRUMP token rising 4.6%.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk reported Bitcoin briefly touched $74,600 before rebounding to around $80,800, with approximately $377 million worth of Bitcoin liquidated in the process. Altcoins posted more modest gains, with XRP up 1.6%, SOL up 4.9%, TRX up 2.3%, and ADA up 4.6%.
As of April 8, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at $2.55 trillion, up 1.55% over the past 24 hours, while total market volume surged to $200.99 billion — a staggering 89.81% increase, reflecting heightened trading activity and volatility.
Looking Ahead: CPI Data and Market Sentiment
All eyes are now on upcoming U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which could heavily influence market direction. A softer-than-expected inflation reading may ease investor concerns and catalyze a broader recovery across risk assets, including crypto.
Alankar Saxena, CTO and Co-founder of crypto investment platform Mudrex, noted that Bitcoin is currently testing resistance at $84,000 with key support at $75,900.
He emphasized the growing conviction among long-term holders, saying that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana have rebounded as much as 15% from recent lows.
“Amid prolonged trade fragmentation and geopolitical strain, Bitcoin’s role as a potential safe-haven asset is being re-evaluated,” Saxena said. “This could add to its upward momentum, especially if traditional markets continue to remain volatile.”
Market Risks Still Loom
Still, risks remain elevated. According to data from Coinglass, around $1.5 billion in bullish crypto positions were liquidated in the last 24 hours — the largest such flush in 2025.
FalconX’s head of APAC derivatives, Sean McNulty, warned that options markets are now signaling sustained selling pressure, with demand for put options rising considerably.
Will Clemente, former co-founder of Reflexivity Research, expressed caution: “While I think we’re closer to the end of this correction than the beginning, market uncertainty remains high, and Bitcoin is not immune when investors must sell assets to meet margin calls or internal risk thresholds.”
Conclusion
Bitcoin’s bounce above $80,000 provides some relief to crypto markets rattled by global trade tensions, but the road ahead remains murky.
As investors digest tariff fallout and await crucial inflation data, Bitcoin’s ability to hold current levels—and possibly reclaim higher resistance—will depend on broader risk sentiment and macroeconomic signals.
Until then, traders should brace for continued volatility and remain attuned to shifting geopolitical developments that could further influence the trajectory of digital assets.
About Bitrue
Bitrue is a leading cryptocurrency exchange, offering a wide range of digital assets, innovative features, and user-focused services. Founded with the mission to empower the world’s crypto enthusiasts, Bitrue continues to expand its platform with new products, events, and opportunities for users worldwide.
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