Bitcoin surged back toward $84,000 on Friday after a turbulent week dominated by trade policy swings and investor anxiety. The rebound came in the wake of President Donald Trump’s unexpected announcement of a 90-day suspension on most newly proposed tariffs—an easing gesture that momentarily calmed jittery markets.
According to CoinGecko, Bitcoin rose 5.1% over the last 24 hours, reaching $83,800 by press time. The bounce nearly erased Monday’s steep drop, when BTC tumbled to $74,700 amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. Other cryptocurrencies rallied as well, with Solana jumping 8.3% to hit $120 and Ethereum climbing 3% to approximately $1,550.
“This week will likely go down as one of the more memorable ones in recent crypto history,” said Samir Kerbage, Chief Investment Officer at Hashdex.
“Bitcoin has been outperforming most risk assets over the past few days—its resilience stands out.”
The crypto market’s volatility echoed the broader financial system, where investor appetite for risk remains closely tied to macroeconomic uncertainty. As the dust settles from Trump’s tariff freeze, traders are eyeing the charts to see whether Bitcoin can regain its previous all-time highs or remain vulnerable to further policy-driven shocks.
Wall Street Sees Relief Rally, But Caution Lingers
U.S. equity markets mirrored the crypto market’s volatility. After a rocky start to the week, Wall Street rebounded as the White House eased its tariff threats. The S&P 500 ended the week up 5.6%, the Nasdaq rallied 7.3%, and the Dow gained 5%. While the pause provided short-term relief, President Trump also intensified his stance on China, imposing a 145% total tariff on Chinese exports to the U.S.
That dual message—easing broad-based tariffs while doubling down on China—left investors conflicted. The relief rally was strong, but many market participants voiced concern over the unpredictable nature of Trump’s trade strategy. “It’s hard to price anything when the policy direction flips every few days,” a trader told The Block.
Consumer Sentiment Slumps as Inflation Concerns Reignite
Amid the market rebound, troubling signs emerged from the real economy. The University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment survey recorded an 11% drop in April, falling to 50.8—its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey director Joanne Hsu pointed to mounting economic anxiety, citing fears over inflation, instability in global markets, and uncertainty about household finances.
Although March’s inflation reading came in at a moderate 2.4% year-over-year—below most Wall Street forecasts—longer-term expectations tell a different story. The same report revealed that inflation expectations for the next five years jumped to their highest level since 1981, a move driven largely by fears that Trump’s tariffs could reignite cost-of-living pressures.
As investors sought safety amid the turmoil, gold prices soared to a new all-time high of $3,263 per ounce. Some analysts argue Bitcoin may eventually rival gold’s safe-haven status. “Bitcoin has the features to become a long-term store of value,” said Kerbage. “It may not be there yet, but this trade war might just accelerate the transition.”
Quick Facts:
- Bitcoin’s price rebounded to approximately $83,390 on April 11, 2025, after a week of volatile trading.
- Trade tensions between the U.S. and China contributed to sharp moves in both traditional and digital markets.
- Ethereum, Solana, and other altcoins also posted gains as macroeconomic concerns temporarily eased.
- Consumer sentiment in the U.S. dropped to its lowest level since the pandemic, while long-term inflation fears reached a multi-decade high.
