Bitcoin Crash Today as Japan and Asia Stock Markets Open Lower

Cryptocurrency markets are falling today, represented mainly by Bitcoin and Ether, which faced a strong devaluation. Following the negative movement of Asian stock markets, both cryptocurrencies extended their losses, a phenomenon that reflects the increase in trade tensions led by US President Donald Trump.

Peter Chung, Head of Research at Presto Research, commented on the current situation: “Amid growing caution about the pace and scope of the April 2 tariff implementations, a mindset of 'Sell now, think later' took over risk assets, including bitcoin.”

Why is Bitcoin falling today?

Bitcoin recently lost the critical support of $80, a move directly influenced by a wave of tension in global markets. This tension was triggered by the US tariff announcement, which significantly increased risk aversion among investors. The consequences of this protectionist policy, implemented by President Donald Trump, were immediate and severe, with tariffs of up to 34% being imposed on China. In response, China has taken similar retaliatory measures.

This escalation in trade tensions had a significant impact on important market indexes such as Nasdaq, S&P500 and Ibovespa, all of which recorded significant declines. Nasdaq, for example, entered a bear market, a clear indication of the nervousness that permeated the markets. At the same time, the dollar saw a sharp increase in its value, while essential commodities such as oil and iron ore suffered significant declines. This scenario reflected the growing fear of a possible global economic slowdown, which in turn led to the fall in the price of Bitcoin after breaking significant support.

In the last 24 hours, the price of Bitcoin has seen an 8% drop, trading close to $76.500.. Ether, on the other hand, saw an even larger decline of 15%, with its price hitting $1.500. This decline is in line with the overall performance of the top 30 cryptocurrencies, which saw an 8,6% drop according to the GMCI 30 index.

S&P 500 Futures, Japan and Asia Stocks Open Lower Today

In Asia, the picture was no different. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index plunged 8% shortly after opening as trading was halted due to a circuit breaker mechanism. South Korea’s Kospi fell 4,6%, while China’s Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component suffered falls of 5,8% and 7,2%, respectively. Similarly, Taiwan’s stock market saw a sharp drop, with many stocks hitting their daily downside limits immediately after a long holiday.

The S&P 500 US stock index futures Futures for June 2025 was down nearly 4% early Monday.

Jeff Mei, chief operating officer of cryptocurrency exchange BTSE, weighed in on the scenario: “Historically, cryptocurrency markets tend to outperform equity markets over the weekend, and the Asian market declines this morning appear to have reinforced that belief.”

In total, cryptocurrency liquidations over the past 24 hours amounted to around $890,9 million, with long liquidations accounting for approximately $758,2 million of that total.

Finally, Chung cautions that market stabilization depends on several factors, including the global response to Trump’s policies and expectations regarding Federal Reserve actions to mitigate instability. “Growth Scare 2.0 is in full swing, with markets now pricing in rate cuts of more than 100 basis points this year,” Chung said.

Nick Ruck, research director at LVRG, commented on the difficulties faced by TradFi companies in the face of Trump’s strong tariff policies, highlighting that they are navigating “choppy waters”.