Bitcoin (BTC) has entered 2025 with its weakest first-quarter performance in ten years, plunging 11.7%, marking its grimmest Q1 since 2015, as cited by Binance. The cryptocurrency has slid from $93,500 to below $80,000, igniting fierce debate among investors about its current market cycle amid economic upheaval and global trade strains.
The decline follows a turbulent arc. After a post-election spike in November fueled by Trump’s victory and hopes of softer regulations, Bitcoin’s momentum unraveled in early April when the U.S. imposed steep reciprocal tariffs on major trade partners.
This policy jolt triggered profit-taking and a risk-averse shift, driving BTC below $80,000. Though it initially held steadier than some anticipated, a 2.6% drop on Sunday, paired with a 17% slump in 24-hour trade volume to $14.16 billion, has heightened the gloom.
Bitcoin’s trajectory appears more tethered than ever to global liquidity dynamics, with these tariffs rocking its stability. This sentiment echoes across X over the past few hours, as users flag the ongoing price decline and subdued trading activity on major exchanges like Binance, Bybit, and OKX.
Crypto heavyweight Arthur Hayes, former BitMex CEO, has warned of a potential “Black Monday” for Bitcoin as markets reopen on Monday. The political landscape adds layers of complexity: Trump’s tariff strategy has split the crypto community, with some praising his pro-Bitcoin stance while others lament the economic fallout.
Binance highlights past Q1 losses, like 2014’s bearish shift or 2020’s rebound, but today’s strain is rooted in policy uncertainty and a 60% U.S. recession risk, per Binance, testing Bitcoin’s resilience in a fractured economic climate.