Key Takeaways:
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- Bitcoin (BTC) rose 1% to $95,400, approaching $96,000 for the first time since February, while the broader crypto market gained 1.1%, led by Bitcoin Cash (BCH), which surged 6.3%.
- U.S. stocks continued their recovery from early April’s tariff-induced panic, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rising 0.55%.
- Consumer confidence hit its lowest level since May 2020, and job openings fell to 7.19 million in March, reflecting the economic strain of Trump’s tariff policies.
- Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced a trade deal with an unnamed country, though details remain pending.
- Bitwise’s Jeff Park criticized the market’s focus on potential Fed rate cuts, warning that U.S. creditworthiness and global capital costs are at risk due to the weaponization of the dollar.
What Happened?
Bitcoin edged higher on Tuesday, trading at $95,400 and nearing $96,000, a level it hasn’t reached since February. The CoinDesk 20 index of top cryptocurrencies also rose 1.1%, with Bitcoin Cash leading gains at 6.3%. Crypto stocks like Coinbase (COIN) and MicroStrategy (MSTR) posted modest gains, while Janover (JNVR) surged 16% on its Solana (SOL) accumulation strategy.
Meanwhile, U.S. stocks continued their recovery from early April’s tariff-driven selloff, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each gaining 0.55%. However, economic data painted a grim picture, with consumer confidence at its lowest since May 2020 and job openings falling below expectations.
In trade news, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced a trade deal with an unspecified country, though details remain unclear.
Why It Matters?
Bitcoin’s rally and the stock market’s recovery highlight a disconnect between market performance and underlying economic data. While investors appear optimistic, indicators like falling consumer confidence and job openings suggest that Trump’s tariffs are weighing on the U.S. economy.
Jeff Park of Bitwise warned that the market’s focus on potential Fed rate cuts is misplaced, arguing that the weaponization of the dollar and its impact on U.S. creditworthiness could have long-term consequences for global capital costs.
The announcement of a new trade deal could provide some relief, but the lack of details leaves uncertainty about its potential impact on the economy and markets.
What’s Next?
Investors will closely watch for further developments on the trade deal and any signals from the Federal Reserve regarding rate cuts. Meanwhile, the crypto market’s performance will depend on whether Bitcoin can sustain its momentum and break above $96,000.
For the broader economy, the focus will remain on how the U.S. navigates the fallout from its tariff policies and whether additional measures are introduced to stabilize consumer confidence and job growth.