100% Tariffs for China: Trump Triggers Biggest Cryptocurrency Crash in History

The financial world has once again found itself at the center of turbulent events in recent days, as US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of 100% tariffs on goods from China. This decision was a response to Beijing's "extremely aggressive stance," which, according to Trump, sent the world an "extremely hostile letter" declaring it would impose sweeping export controls on its products effective November 1, 2025. In response to these actions, the US also plans to impose export controls on all critical software.

Cryptocurrency Market Reaction

The immediate reaction of the cryptocurrency market to this news was devastating. On October 10, Bitcoin fell to $102,173 on Binance, a 19% drop from its all-time high set just four days earlier, on October 6. At the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin has recovered to $111,580, but this does not negate the magnitude of the event.
1-day BTC/USDT chart. Source: Binance

The scale of the disaster

In 24 hours, liquidations in the crypto market reached a whopping $19.31 billion, according to CoinGlass. Bitcoin and Ethereum lost between 15% and 20% of their value overnight. Total market capitalization fell by $900 billion from the day's peak to trough, with $500 billion evaporating in just 10 minutes.
1-day chart of total cryptocurrency market capitalization. Source: TradingView

Trader Daan Crypto Trades described the situation as follows: "Exchanges froze, market makers withdrew liquidity, and some altcoins literally fell to zero. Tokens lost their peg, including USDE. Liquidations are expected to amount to $30 billion to $40 billion."

The Mechanics of the Market Crash

Analysts explain that before the crash, a huge amount of leverage accumulated in the stock and crypto markets as traders prepared for a breakout of the all-time high. Bitcoin volatility was near cycle lows, and a small jolt was enough to trigger a major move. News of Trump and China's tariffs became the catalyst—market participants recalled April, when similar sell-offs occurred, and began dumping assets en masse.

Record Liquidations

Crypto trader and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe called the event "the biggest crash in cryptocurrency history." He noted that such events highlight the high volatility and risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies.

Reasons for Market Volatility

1. Leverage: Many traders used borrowed funds to increase their positions, making the market more vulnerable to sharp fluctuations.
2. Low Liquidity: In times of uncertainty, liquidity on exchanges sharply decreases, leading to wild price fluctuations.
3. Market Psychology: Fear and panic can quickly spread among investors, leading to widespread sell-offs.

In Conclusion

The situation in the cryptocurrency market following Trump's announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods highlights how quickly and disruptively changes can occur in this sector. The cryptocurrency market remains highly volatile and susceptible to external factors, such as political decisions and economic news. Investors should exercise particular caution and caution when considering the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading.

Ultimately, the events of recent days serve as a reminder that in the world of finance, everything can change in an instant, and it is important to be prepared for any unexpected events.