Bitcoin Surges 13% as Trump's Tariff Pause Boosts Whale Activity

Bitcoin surged back into the spotlight this weekend after President Trump unexpectedly announced a 90-day pause on key tech tariffs. This move appears to have reignited risk appetite across the crypto market. The pause, which exempts products like smartphones, computer chips, and other critical components from previously announced 125% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports, has already sparked a notable rise in Bitcoin whale activity. According to on-chain analytics platform Santiment, the number of wallets holding 10 or more BTC has jumped by 132 in just 24 hours, a strong indicator that high-stake investors are moving back in. “Bitcoin’s whales and sharks are growing in number, indicating a sudden shift after Trump implemented his 90-day tariff pause yesterday,” Santiment tweeted Thursday. “This suggests a higher level of confidence from crypto’s key stakeholders.”

Notably, the tariff exemptions, covering around $390 billion in imports, including over $100 billion from China, were designed to give U.S. companies time to shift their supply chains away from China. For major tech firms like Apple and Nvidia, this provides short-term relief from what was shaping up to be a supply chain disaster. Prior to the exemption, Apple alone had lost over $640 billion in market value due to investor fears of rising production costs and inflated consumer prices. But it’s not just the tech sector feeling the relief. Bitcoin surged past the $83,000 mark within hours of the announcement, briefly pulling back on Thursday before resuming its bullish momentum through Friday and into Saturday. Strong social buzz, particularly around the words “exemption” and “tariffs,” has reinforced the rally, showing how closely market sentiment is tracking policy moves.

Crypto markets have long mirrored the performance of high-growth tech stocks, often being lumped into the “innovation” asset class. According to Santiment analyst BrainQ, both sectors take a hit when trade war fears rise. But as those fears ease, as they did this weekend, capital tends to flow back into both tech and crypto simultaneously. This surge in confidence isn’t just about price. The tariff exemption also included semiconductor components, a critical part of the crypto ecosystem used in mining and blockchain development. Ensuring steady supply and cost-effective access to these chips supports the industry’s broader infrastructure. That said, while trading activity remains elevated and whales appear to accumulate, broader public sentiment is just catching up, likely due to lower weekend news tracking. However, with Wall Street closed until Monday, many expect a tech stock rally to follow, which could further boost Bitcoin and altcoins in the coming days.

For now, all eyes are on how long this bullish momentum can last before crowd FOMO either accelerates or abruptly cools the rally. Bitcoin experienced a significant surge in value following the announcement of a 90-day pause on additional tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. This pause, which unifies all tariff rates to 10% during negotiations, sparked a wave of optimism in the cryptocurrency market. The market sentiment was supercharged, leading to a sharp rebound in Bitcoin's price. This rebound was not an isolated event but part of a broader market excitement fueled by external factors, including the tariff pause. The pause in tariffs created a sense of relief and optimism among investors, who saw it as a positive development that could mitigate the economic uncertainties caused by the trade war. This optimism translated into increased buying activity, particularly among large investors, commonly referred to as "whales." These whales, who hold significant amounts of Bitcoin, absorbed the market pressure and contributed to the price surge. The market's reaction was a classic case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), where investors rushed to buy Bitcoin in anticipation of further price increases.

The surge in Bitcoin's price was not limited to a single day but continued over a period, with the cryptocurrency bouncing back to $81,000. This price level is significant as it represents a key resistance level that Bitcoin has struggled to break through in the past. The tariff pause provided the necessary catalyst for Bitcoin to overcome this resistance and continue its upward trajectory. The market's reaction to the tariff pause highlights the sensitivity of cryptocurrencies to external factors, particularly those related to global trade and economic policy. The pause in tariffs created a sense of stability and predictability in the market, which is crucial for investor confidence. This confidence was further bolstered by the fact that the tariff pause was announced by the U.S. President, who has a significant influence on global economic policy. The surge in Bitcoin's price also reflects the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate asset class. The fact that large investors are willing to take on significant positions in Bitcoin indicates that they see it as a viable investment option. This acceptance is further supported by the increasing number of institutional investors entering the cryptocurrency market. In conclusion, the surge in Bitcoin's price following the tariff pause is a testament to the market's sensitivity to external factors and the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate asset class. The market's reaction was driven by a combination of optimism, FOMO, and the actions of large investors. The tariff pause provided the necessary catalyst for Bitcoin to overcome key resistance levels and continue its upward trajectory.