On-chain data shows the large Bitcoin holders have been participating in a notable amount of loss realization recently, a sign of capitulation. Bitcoin Sharks & Whales See High Values On Realized Loss Metric In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has talked about the latest trend in the Bitcoin Realized Loss for the sharks and whales. The “Realized Loss” here refers to an indicator that measures, as its name suggests, the total amount of loss that BTC holders are realizing through their transactions. Related Reading: Ethereum Drops Nearly 5% As Familiar Leverage Setup Plays Out In the context of the current topic, the version of the metric that’s of relevance is the one tracking the transfers related to two specific investor cohorts: the sharks and whales. These groups cover the 100 to 1,000 BTC and 1,000 to 10,000 BTC ranges, respectively. As such, the only investors who would qualify for the sharks and whales would be the big-money hands. Recently, the market as a whole has seen some pain as bearish momentum has dominated the sector, leading to loss-taking selloffs among investors. The sharks and whales haven’t been any different in behavior, as the chart for their Realized Loss shows. As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin sharks and whales have observed the 7-day simple moving average (SMA) of their combined Realized Loss sit at significant levels recently. From the chart, it’s visible that the loss realization spiked to particularly high levels following the price crashes in November and February, indicating a pronounced degree of market pain surrounding the events. Today, the 7-day SMA of the Bitcoin Realized Loss for the sharks and whales has a value greater than $200 million per day. “Typical capitulation behaviour from larger entities,” noted the analytics firm. Historically, major capitulation phases have tended to pave the way for bottoms as coins tend to transfer from weak hands to more resolute entities during such events. It now remains to be seen whether the loss taking from big-money investors has been extreme enough for a bottom yet. In some other news, Bitcoin has nearly arrived at the halfway point to the next Halving, as Glassnode has highlighted in another X post. Halvings are events that permanently slash in half BTC’s block subsidy, the compensation that miners receive for adding the next block to the chain. Related Reading: Dogecoin Bollinger Bands Tighten—Big Move Brewing? Halvings occur about every four years, with the next such event currently estimated to occur in April 2028. Bitcoin will reach the halfway point to this event at block 945,000. At the moment, the chain is at block 943,495. How BTC's block height has grown over its history | Source: Glassnode on X BTC Price Bitcoin has continued to consolidate recently as its price is trading around $67,000. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
The increased odds reflect heightened geopolitical tensions, suggesting potential instability but not an immediate regime change.
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The increased odds highlight geopolitical tensions and market skepticism, underscoring the complexity of predicting regime stability.
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The latest supply event from Chainlink is back in focus as the network completed its routine quarterly unlock, releasing nearly 19 million LINK tokens into the market. While this process isn’t new, the size, timing, and on-chain activity around it are catching attention. $165M LINK Moved, Binance Sees Bulk Inflows According to on-chain tracker Yu …
Investor caution amid geopolitical tensions suggests a shift in capital allocation, impacting market sentiment and Bitcoin's price outlook.
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Geopolitical tensions and regulatory uncertainties may hinder Bitcoin's growth, requiring significant catalysts for substantial price increases.
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Senator Richard Blumenthal has escalated his scrutiny of Binance, sending a follow‑up letter on April 1 to co‑CEO Richard Teng that presses the crypto exchange to explain apparent discrepancies between its testimony to the Senate and subsequent media reporting about transactions tied to Iran. The New Haven Democrat said he is concerned that Binance may have provided “misrepresentations or misleading information to the Subcommittee and to the public,” and he demanded documents and records the company relied on in preparing its earlier responses. Senate Probe Seeks Wallets, Transactions, And Answers Blumenthal’s letter comes after reporting by Fortune and The New York Times that traced roughly $1.7 billion in flows from Binance‑linked accounts to entities with ties to Iran, a far larger sum than the $110,000 figure Binance cited last year for direct transactions with four major Iranian exchanges. The senator said that gap, together with Binance’s partial or delayed production of materials requested by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), raised “further alarms about its candor and compliance with Congressional oversight.” Related Reading: New Bitcoin Crash Ahead? Bloomberg Strategist Forecasts Return To $10,000 – Here’s Why Blumenthal’s letter lays out a long list of specific questions and records requests. He asked Binance to disclose whether any accounts sent or received funds to or from a set of Iran‑linked wallets referenced in the reporting, and to provide the wallet addresses. He demanded a full, year‑over‑year accounting of transactions between Binance and known Iranian exchanges, and asked to explain the methodology it used to calculate the $110,000 figure, including whether it counted transfers that were later associated with Iranian exchanges. Blumenthal also pressed the crypto exchange on internal compliance practices. He asked whether Binance has removed, weakened, or relaxed any detection, screening, freezing, or reporting mechanisms since January 1, 2025, including tools designed to spot illicit indirect transfers. He sought clarity on whether Binance has ever declined to investigate, suspend, or remove accounts tied to individuals inside Iran — including those using VPNs or “drop accounts” (KYC‑verified accounts that are bought, shared, or stolen). Relatedly, he asked whether Binance had ever disciplined compliance staff who raised concerns internally or provided information to law enforcement or external partners, noting reports that Binance had dismissed personnel for “unauthorized disclosure.” Binance Given April 14 Deadline The senator further criticized what he characterized as delayed or inadequate action by Binance in response to law enforcement warnings. He said Binance took two months to respond to law enforcement regarding alleged terrorist financing by entities such as Hexa Whale and another two months to remove an implicated shell entity. He also alleged it took at least five months for Binance to remove Blessed Trust as a vendor after being warned about its role in suspected terrorist financing. Blumenthal wrote that Binance appeared, in some cases, to have labeled certain accounts with internal tags like “Don’t block. Internal accounts,” which he said should have signaled the need for heightened scrutiny rather than protection from enforcement. Related Reading: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Conditional Nod For Coinbase National Trust Bank Charter He asked for exact dates showing when the companies and people involved opened Binance accounts, started sending funds to Iranian intermediaries, were reported to US law enforcement, and when they were suspended or removed. The Senator also demanded explanations for any delays between being notified and taking action. Blumenthal invoked Senate rules and gave Binance until April 14 of this year to turn over records. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Rising EU-US trade tensions could disrupt global markets, impacting economic stability and international trade relations significantly.
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Skepticism about Iranian regime change highlights the regime's resilience and the complexities of geopolitical shifts in volatile regions.
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The entrenched power structures in Iran suggest a stable regime, complicating external efforts for change and impacting market confidence.
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Increased tensions in Tehran highlight potential for significant geopolitical shifts, impacting regional stability and global market dynamics.
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The explosions highlight escalating tensions that could destabilize Iran, but market skepticism suggests limited belief in imminent regime change.
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XRP is holding above $1.30. Yesterday it was not — the level broke for several hours before buyers stepped back in. The recovery is real. The market behind it is nearly empty. An Arab Chain report tracking transaction activity on Binance has identified a condition that places the current price defense in its proper context: XRP deposits and withdrawals on the platform have reached their lowest levels since 2025. Related Reading: Ethereum Absorbs $1B In An Hour As Trump Signals Escalation Over the past 30 days, deposit transactions totaled approximately 310,500 while withdrawal transactions reached around 329,400 — a net negative count of approximately -18,900. Both figures, taken individually, represent a fraction of the activity levels that characterized XRP’s most active trading periods. The significance of that collapse is not just directional — it is structural. When transaction activity falls to multi-year lows, the market loses the participation density that normally cushions price moves in both directions. The buyers who stepped in yesterday to reclaim $1.30 did so in a market that has shed the majority of its trading infrastructure. The recovery happened. It happened in a near-empty room. That matters because thin markets amplify everything. The floor that held yesterday is a thinner floor than it looks — and the ceiling above it is closer than the chart suggests. From 6 Million to 640,000. That Is Not a Decline. That Is a Different Market The historical comparison the report provides reframes the current activity levels from concerning to historically extreme. At peak periods in 2025, XRP deposit and withdrawal transactions on Binance exceeded 6 million over a 30-day window. The current 30-day total across both directions sits at approximately 640,000. That is not a seasonal slowdown or a cyclical dip — it is a 90% reduction in the market infrastructure that processes XRP on the platform’s most liquid venue. The sharp decline began in mid-2025 and has not recovered. What was initially a correction in activity has stabilized into a new baseline — one that reflects a market from which the majority of short-term participants have withdrawn. The speculative activity that drives transaction volume in active markets has largely disappeared. The traders who generated millions of monthly transactions are not here. What remains is more specific and more telling. Despite the collapse in overall activity, withdrawals continue to outpace deposits — persistently, consistently, in the same direction. In a market this quiet, that directional signal carries more weight than it would against a backdrop of high volume. Coins leaving a nearly empty exchange during a period of subdued trading are not being sold. They are being moved — to cold wallets, to private custody, away from the sell side entirely. That behavior has a name. The report names it carefully: it may indicate accumulation. Not confirmation. Not a guarantee. A pattern that historically precedes a different kind of market than the one currently visible on the chart. Related Reading: XRP Whales Move $592 Million From Exchanges In Two Days. Discover What Triggered It XRP Trapped Below Key Averages as Weak Structure Persists XRP remains structurally weak on the higher timeframe, and the 3-day chart makes that difficult to dispute. Price is trading near $1.31 after failing to reclaim the cluster of moving averages above, with the 50, 100, and 200-period averages all trending downward and stacked bearishly. That alignment confirms that momentum is not just negative — it is consistent across timeframes. The breakdown in February was decisive. XRP lost the $2.00 region with expansion in volume, establishing a new lower range. Since then, price has transitioned into a compression phase between roughly $1.20 and $1.50, with repeated failures to sustain upside attempts. The most recent bounce stalled below the 50-period moving average, reinforcing it as dynamic resistance. Related Reading: $11.4 Billion in XRP Has Left Binance. Here Is What Happens When Demand Returns There is, however, a detail worth questioning: volume has declined meaningfully during this consolidation. That typically reflects reduced participation rather than strong accumulation. Without expansion in demand, range lows tend to weaken over time. The key level remains $1.20. A clean break below that zone likely accelerates downside, as there is little structural support beneath. On the upside, reclaiming $1.50 is necessary but insufficient. Until XRP reclaims at least the 100-period average, rallies should be treated as corrective, not trend-changing. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin ETFs offer more use cases for the average investor’s portfolio than a gold ETF does, according to ETF analyst James Seyffart.
Market skepticism highlights the fragile state of US-Iran relations, with diplomatic efforts struggling to gain traction amid rising tensions.
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Rising odds of US military action in Iran could destabilize regional geopolitics, impacting global markets and diplomatic relations significantly.
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The heightened market prediction reflects increased geopolitical tensions, potentially leading to significant military and economic repercussions.
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Iran's rejection of US demands exacerbates market volatility and dims prospects for diplomatic resolution, impacting geopolitical stability.
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Iran's stance heightens regional tensions, complicating diplomatic efforts and increasing the likelihood of military confrontations.
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The XRP price structure is not giving a clear bullish signal, and there are questions as to whether the current range will hold up and whether there’s going to be another leg down. Crypto analyst Hov, who has been tracking XRP’s structure on the weekly timeframe, laid out a detailed Elliott Wave count on X that identifies exactly where the price stands and what it needs to do in the coming sessions to avoid a more serious breakdown. XRP Wave Structure Is Sending A Warning Signal Crypto analyst Hov pointed out that the XRP price action coming off the recent lows lacks the kind of impulsive strength traders look for when a reversal is going on. Related Reading: The Last Time XRP Made This Move Against Bitcoin, It Led To A 500% Increase To $3.3 Hov’s chart, drawn on the weekly timeframe, traces out an expansive Elliott Wave sequence beginning from XRP’s 2018 cycle top through the corrective lows of 2019/2020, recovering across the 2021 bull cycle, and extending into the current setup. What the analyst observed is interesting: the XRP price action from the recent swing low is printing a series of threes, not a clean five-wave impulsive structure. In Elliott Wave theory, a sequence of three-wave moves is corrective by nature. It implies that the dominant trend may not have fully reversed and that price could still be responding to a larger downward cycle. The expectation earlier was that XRP would push into a fifth wave off the lows to confirm bullish intent. That move has not materialized. As long as the price structure is corrective, then there are risks of continuation to the downside. Major Price Levels To Watch As it stands, XRP has spent the past few days trading in a range between $1.30 and $1.35. This zone has acted as a pivot in recent price action, and losing it could lead to a deeper move lower. Hov specifically warned that a higher timeframe below this support would increase the likelihood of a breakdown. Related Reading: XRP Price Move Below $1: Analyst Warns That Another Crash Is Coming The 12-hour chart also shows a deeper support region closer to the $1.15 range, which is based on the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level. If the current level fails, that area becomes the next logical target. There is still room for the bullish scenario to play out, but the window is narrowing. “That doesn’t mean we can’t recover it just means we gotta do it quickly because we are just barely holding our key level on HTF,” Hov said. That important higher-timeframe level is visible in the chart as the lower boundary of a wide cyan support zone between $1.45 and $1.70. The bullish scenario will play out as long as the XRP price holds above the sub-wave 1 high from mid-2023, which is around $0.88. The first and more immediately bullish scenario requires XRP to reclaim the white box at $1.50 and achieve a higher-timeframe close above it. A sustained close above this zone would set off the price action to $1.80. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Google's quantum paper made headlines with that number. Here's what it means, what's actually at risk, and why 6.9 million bitcoin are more exposed than the rest.
Ethereum could outpace Bitcoin by a wide margin over the next four years — at least according to one of the most bullish forecasts to come out of traditional banking. That is the view from Geoff Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, who laid out the projection in a recent podcast appearance. Ethereum’s Potential Gain Towers Over Bitcoin’s While Bitcoin grabs the bigger headline number, the math actually favors Ethereum. Kendrick’s base case puts Bitcoin at $500,000 by 2030 — roughly 7.5 times its current price of $66,400. Ethereum, sitting at $2,034, would need to hit $40,000 to meet his target. That works out to about 20 times its current value. In other words, Ethereum holders would see nearly three times the relative return compared to Bitcoin investors, if the forecast holds. Related Reading: Bitcoin Stumbles Hard: The Worst Q1 In Years Raises Big Questions Kendrick flagged the ETH/BTC ratio as one indicator to watch. That ratio currently sits at around 0.03. His outlook has it climbing to 0.04 in the near term, a signal that Ethereum would be gaining ground on Bitcoin in relative terms. He also offered a more immediate checkpoint: if Bitcoin gets back to $100,000 by the end of 2026, Ethereum should be trading near $4,000. That would represent gains of roughly 50% for Bitcoin and 95% for Ethereum from where both assets currently stand. Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered: “I’ve got $500K Bitcoin by 2030 and $40K Ethereum by 2030 – a massive outperformance.” That’s ~20x on $ETH from here. pic.twitter.com/p7dFwPrTzG — Milk Road (@MilkRoad) April 1, 2026 Banks Are Choosing Ethereum First One reason why Kendrick believes in the bullishness of Ethereum is that the financial sector has been joining the blockchain revolution. From Kendrick’s point of view, large asset management firms and banks usually begin their blockchain ventures by developing products based on Ethereum since it has a reputation for safety and reliability. For instance, BlackRock started creating blockchain products using Ethereum first before venturing into other blockchain networks. This pattern, Kendrick argues, gives Ethereum a durable edge. As more institutions follow the same playbook, demand for the network could build steadily through the end of the decade. He described this as the “first phase” of real-world adoption playing out primarily on Ethereum, even if activity eventually spreads to competing blockchains. Related Reading: XRP Could Soon Enter Arizona’s Treasury — Here’s What’s Happening Network Usage Seen As A Price Driver Beyond institutional adoption, Kendrick pointed to raw network activity as a key factor in his price outlook. Rising transaction fees on Ethereum-based applications are seen as a gauge of demand. As stablecoins, decentralized finance, and tokenized real-world assets continue to grow on the network, that increased usage could push the token’s value higher. The forecast was shared during an interview on the Milk Road podcast with host John Gillen. Standard Chartered has not publicly released a formal research note tied to these specific figures, but Kendrick’s comments drew wide attention across the crypto community following the appearance. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
The surge in prediction markets signals heightened geopolitical tensions and potential for prolonged US military engagement in the region.
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The incident underscores heightened tensions, diminishing diplomatic resolution prospects and impacting market confidence in ceasefire outcomes.
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XRP is struggling around key demand levels. The market is preparing for a decisive move. And the data beneath the price is describing a contest between two groups of participants who have reached completely opposite conclusions about what comes next. Related Reading: XRP Whales Move $592 Million From Exchanges In Two Days. Discover What Triggered It A CryptoQuant report has identified a divergence in XRP’s market structure that makes the current price level more consequential than it appears on the surface. Spot CVD on Binance has climbed to $451 million — real capital, exchanged for real XRP, building steadily on the buy side. The participants behind that number believe in the current price. They are putting money behind that belief. Simultaneously, Binance Perpetual CVD sits at approximately -$1.5 billion, while All CEX Perpetual CVD hovers near -$1 billion. The derivatives market is not neutral. It is actively bearish — leveraged traders positioned for XRP to fall, with conviction strong enough to sustain nearly $1.5 billion in negative cumulative positioning. Two markets. Two verdicts. One price level caught between them. The spot buyers are absorbing what the derivatives traders are betting against. That dynamic — real demand meeting leveraged skepticism at the same price — is not a stable condition. One side is accumulating fuel for the other’s forced exit. The article ahead explains which side history tends to favor. The Spot Side Is Absorbing What the Derivatives Side Is Selling. That Is Not Nothing. The report’s forward interpretation is where the divergence becomes most consequential. Spot demand building against bearish futures positioning does not simply represent two groups of participants disagreeing — it represents a structural dynamic in which one side’s losses become the other side’s catalyst. When spot buyers absorb sell pressure that derivatives traders are generating, the supply available to push the price lower diminishes. When it diminishes enough, the bearish leveraged positions that were supposed to profit from the decline become a liability — and the process of unwinding them adds buying pressure rather than selling pressure. That mechanism — commonly known as a short squeeze — does not require a fundamental catalyst to trigger. It requires only that spot demand continues building while bearish positioning remains crowded. The report identifies liquidation activity as an additional signal pointing to the same fragility: derivatives positioning is not just bearish, it is exposed. The report is precise about what this does and does not confirm. It is not a bullish signal. It is a pre-bullish structure — spot support forming beneath a market that leveraged traders are still betting against. Those are different things, and the distinction matters. The gap between $451 million in spot buying and $1.5 billion in bearish futures positioning is the distance between current reality and potential forced reaction. If spot demand keeps building and that gap keeps widening, the bearish derivatives bias stops being a headwind and starts being the fuel. Related Reading: Ethereum Absorbs $1B In An Hour As Trump Signals Escalation XRP Drifts Lower as Sellers Maintain Control XRP is trading near $1.31, continuing to show signs of weakness after failing to reclaim higher levels following the February breakdown. The chart reflects a sustained downtrend, with price consistently forming lower highs and lower lows over the past several months, indicating that selling pressure remains dominant. After the sharp capitulation event in early February — marked by a significant spike in volume — XRP entered a consolidation range between roughly $1.25 and $1.50. However, this range has not produced a meaningful recovery. Instead, recent price action shows a gradual drift toward the lower end of the range, suggesting that demand is weakening rather than strengthening. Related Reading: $11.4 Billion in XRP Has Left Binance. Here Is What Happens When Demand Returns The 50-day and 100-day moving averages are both trending downward above the price. Acting as a dynamic resistance and capping any short-term rallies. The 200-day moving average remains significantly higher, reinforcing the broader bearish structure and confirming that XRP has not yet established a reversal. Volume has declined during this consolidation phase, indicating reduced participation and limited conviction from buyers. This lack of demand is evident in repeated failures to sustain moves above $1.40. Unless XRP can reclaim key moving averages and break out of this range with strength, the current structure favors continued pressure, with a potential retest of lower support levels. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The declining ceasefire odds highlight escalating tensions, potentially destabilizing the region and impacting global diplomatic efforts.
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Crypto pundit Chad has drawn a connection between Ripple and XRP with SWIFT. This comes as Ripple continues to expand its payment services and other operations, further integrating XRP and RLUSD into traditional finance (TradFi). Pundit Draws Attention To The Connection Between Ripple And XRP In an X post, Chad noted that Ripple Treasury and XRP are now connected directly to SWIFT. This came as he highlighted Ripple’s listing of SWIFT as one of its connectivity partners for payments. The treasury management firm stated that it is part of the SWIFT Certified Partner Program. Related Reading: XRP Analyst Shares What To Expect Once Ripple Taps This $12.5 Trillion Industry As part of the SWIFT Certified Partner Program, Ripple Treasury stated that it offers global bank connectivity and hosting options for SWIFT’s Alliance Lite2 platform. As part of the Ripple, XRP connection with SWIFT, Ripple Treasury has also partnered to offer SWIFTRef data for IBAN and ABA lookups directly from within its workflow. Additionally, Ripple Treasury has partnered with Fides, which works closely with platforms such as SWIFT. Fides helps Ripple Treasury to extend multi-bank connectivity to customers around the globe. Meanwhile, Chad also pointed out how Ripple and XRP, by proxy, are basically integrated into the financial system. This is through Ripple Treasury’s ClearConnect connectivity layer, which provides connectivity to banks worldwide. The pundit noted that for any bank not yet connected, it now takes only 7 days to install the API and connect. At the moment, Ripple Treasury is connected to NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, Infor, Workday, and MS Dynamics. It is worth noting that this Ripple Treasury’s connectivity layer enables customers who hold crypto assets across multiple platforms to connect to these providers, so they can view their entire portfolio on their treasury management system without needing separate systems. Acquiring GTreasury Was Ripple’s Biggest Move In another X post, Chad stated that GTreasury was the “single biggest move” that Ripple has ever made. This came as he alluded to Ripple’s latest move to launch the first management system with native on-chain capabilities. This move integrates XRP and RLUSD into the Ripple Treasury, allowing customers to use these crypto assets in the same environment as fiat. Related Reading: Why SWIFT’s Latest Global Payments Infrastructure Is Bullish For XRP Holders The pundit remarked that Ripple doesn’t need the CLARITY Act to operate, as the crypto firm continues to integrate XRP into mainstream finance. It is worth noting that Ripple is also close to becoming a national trust bank, which could further give the crypto firm access to the U.S. banking system. Additionally, the firm has applied for a Fed Master account, which would enable it to use the Federal Reserve’s payment rails for its stablecoin operations. At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.31, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
The strong US employment data reduces the likelihood of a Fed rate cut, impacting market dynamics and creating contrarian trading opportunities.
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Gold ($2.15B) and Silver ($1.98B) futures on Binance have surged to rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in terms of trading volume, surpassed only by Bitcoin ($21.5B), Ethereum ($18.1B), and Solana ($3.0B). Cumulative trading for gold and silver contracts surpassed $130 billion by early March 2026. The milestone achievement is notable, given that the exchange launched …
Bitcoin is often celebrated as a decentralized network, with mining power distributed globally to ensure security and neutrality. However, a closer look at mining activity suggests that this decentralization may not be as evenly distributed as it appears. While individual theories can participate in mining, the majority of the network’s hash power is concentrated among a relatively small number of large mining pools and geographic regions. Why Bitcoin’s Mining Distribution Deserves A Closer Look Bitcoin mining is not as globally decentralized as many assume. Analyst Lucky revealed on X that while the network is technically permissionless, a significant share of its hashpower is still concentrated in a few regions. Related Reading: Bitcoin Mining Nationalized? US Senators Float Bold New Reserve-Backed Bill Furthermore, estimates suggest that roughly 68% BTC mining power is distributed across three major countries: the United States, China, and Russia. This concentration is not coincidental but driven by fundamental factors such as infrastructure, energy access, and regulatory dynamics. Currently, the US has emerged as a leader due to the rise of institutional-scale mining operations, strong access to capital markets, and relatively stable regulatory clarity in states like Texas. Despite the official bans, China continues to contribute to global hashpower through underground or relocated mining operations, often supported by inexpensive hydro and coal energy. Meanwhile, Russia benefits from abundant low-cost electricity and colder regions where cooling costs are minimal. This dynamic highlights an important reality where BTC decentralization exists, but its mining ecosystem is shaped by real-world power, policy, and energy economics. Ultimately, following the distribution of hashpower offers a clearer picture of where BTC influence within the network truly resides. How New Tariffs Could Pressure Bitcoin And Risk Assets US President Donald Trump is back in focus with a new wave of tariff plans, proposing a 25% levy on the full value of goods that use imported steel and aluminum. An investor known as Sjuul AltCryptoGems on X has outlined that during earlier tariff announcements of Trump, Bitcoin and the broader crypto market dropped hard. Meanwhile, this time, uncertainty is already elevated due to the war. Sjuul pointed out that if these policies escalate into a full-scale conflict, it could amplify volatility across financial markets. During the period, the Bitcoin whales were actively placing resistance in the market, and making it clear that the price would not break above the $70,000 level as the US trading session advanced. According to Crypto Seth, as news surrounding tensions involving Iran emerged, BTC whales appeared to use the event as a catalyst to push the market lower, triggering a wave of liquidations. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whales Still Favoring Short Positions Amid Sideways Price Action In total, 185,806 traders were liquidated, with losses reaching approximately $406,52 million. Crypto Seth noted that this wasn’t random volatility but a calculated move, where 100x Degen longs were caught offside. At the same time, data shows that short leverage is building above the $69,000 level, as indicated by heatmap activity. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com