Key Points

• The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant sell-off driven by escalating recession fears and heightened US-Canada trade tensions.
• Bitcoin's value fell below $81,000, reducing its market capitalization to $2.71 trillion.

The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a substantial correction, primarily attributed to growing recession anxieties and intensifying trade disputes between the United States and Canada. President Trump's aggressive economic policies, including tariffs on key trading partners, have significantly increased market volatility. While avoiding explicit mention of recession, Trump maintains his policies are designed to bolster the economy, despite the potential for near-term disruption.

Canada's Political Shift

A significant political shift occurred in Canada with Mark Carney replacing Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister. Carney has adopted a strong stance against Trump's trade policies. In his inaugural address, Carney underscored Canada's distinct national identity and pledged to maintain tariffs until the U.S. adopts a more respectful approach. This follows Canada's imposition of a 25% tariff on U.S. consumer goods in response to Trump's tariffs.

Deepening Trade War and Crypto Market Impact

The escalating trade conflict has drawn widespread criticism. David Krayden, writing for Post Millennial and Substack, voiced concerns, warning of potential depression if relations are not stabilized.

This turmoil significantly impacted the cryptocurrency market. Following Carney's election, Bitcoin's price briefly dipped below $81,000 before recovering slightly above $82,000. Other prominent cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE), experienced losses exceeding 6%. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization contracted by 6%, reaching $2.8 trillion, with over $600 million in leveraged liquidations. The market cap subsequently declined further to $2.71 trillion, reflecting persistent uncertainty and a bearish market sentiment.