Tariff Jitters Hit Altcoins as Bitcoin Climbs Close to $81K

Bitcoin Holds $81.5K as Tariff Tensions Rattle Global Markets; XRP, ADA Lead Altcoin Losses

Global financial markets kicked off the week in the red, as investors brace for U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected announcement of new tariffs on April 2—a development that’s shaking risk appetite across both equities and crypto.

Bitcoin (BTC) hovered just above $81,500 in early Monday trading during the Asian session, struggling to regain traction after a weekend drop that erased the momentum from last week’s rally. Altcoins were hit harder, with XRP and Cardano (ADA) plunging around 5%, while Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Solana (SOL) slid 2%-3%.

The CoinDesk 20 Index, which tracks top crypto assets, fell 2.6% over the same timeframe.

Despite price weakness, Bitcoin ETFs continued to attract capital. Data from SoSoValue shows $196 million in weekly inflows to BTC-focused funds, while Ethereum ETFs saw minor net outflows totaling $8 million.

Equity markets mirrored the crypto downturn. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell sharply by 3.8%, South Korea’s KOPSI dropped 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.7% during the morning session. Concerns are growing among export-reliant economies over potential barriers to U.S. trade.

Futures across U.S. and European markets were also under pressure. Meanwhile, gold hit new all-time highs, and demand for U.S. Treasuries spiked, driving yields lower, as investors sought refuge from looming geopolitical and economic headwinds.

Crypto traders are also keeping a close eye on token unlock schedules. Analytics firm Tokenomist.ai reported that around $751 million worth of tokens—including SUI and DYDX—are set to unlock this week. A much larger wave is coming in May, with over $4.4 billion in tokens expected to hit the market.

With sentiment fragile and macro uncertainty high, market participants are staying cautious heading into April.