A fleeting Bitcoin rally fizzled out on Monday, March 3, 2025, as traders shifted focus from President Donald Trump’s weekend crypto reserve announcement to looming economic threats posed by proposed U.S. tariffs. After peaking at $95,000 over the weekend, Bitcoin slumped 8% to $86,000 by Monday afternoon, per Coin Metrics data. Ether took an even harder hit, shedding 15% to $2,100, while crypto-linked stocks like Coinbase (-4.6%), Robinhood (-6.4%), and MicroStrategy (-1.8% after a 14% morning surge) reversed course. What sparked the initial excitement—and why did it fade so fast?
Trump’s Crypto Reserve: A Brief Boost
On Sunday, Trump unveiled plans for a U.S. strategic crypto reserve via Truth Social, naming Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana’s SOL, and Cardano’s ADA as key holdings—a shift from his earlier “Bitcoin stockpile” rhetoric. The news sent crypto soaring: Bitcoin jumped 10% from a three-month low below $80,000, while altcoins like XRP (33%), SOL (25%), and ADA (60%) posted double-digit gains. Investors, reeling from Bitcoin’s 25% drop from its January peak and a brutal February (its worst month since 2022), welcomed the lifeline.
But the euphoria was short-lived. “The effect of Trump’s comment will not continue,” warned Yuya Hasegawa of Bitbank. “It’s already digested.” Analysts noted the announcement lacked fresh meat—it built on January’s executive order directing a crypto working group to explore a reserve, not a firm commitment to establish it. Without a concrete catalyst, Bitcoin couldn’t shake its consolidation funk.
Tariffs Steal the Spotlight
Enter Trump’s tariff threats, set to slap 25% levies on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on China starting Tuesday, March 4. Fears of a trade war—and its ripple effects on inflation, consumer costs, and risk assets—drowned out crypto optimism. Bitcoin, already vulnerable below $90,000 support last week, risked sliding toward $70,000 absent a counterforce. Ether and smaller coins, inherently riskier, bled even more as macro jitters took hold. Posts on X reflect the mood shift, with traders lamenting, “Tariffs are killing the vibe—crypto can’t catch a break.”
Crypto Stocks Feel the Heat
The sell-off hit crypto-adjacent equities too. Coinbase and Robinhood, barometers of retail crypto sentiment, shed nearly 5% and 6.5%, respectively. MicroStrategy—a Bitcoin proxy with its massive BTC holdings—swung wildly, erasing a 14% opening rally to close down 1.8%. The Nasdaq’s 4% February slide and broader market unease over Trump’s economic gambits didn’t help.
All Eyes on Friday’s Crypto Summit
Could the reserve still ignite a lasting rally? Investors are pinning hopes on the first White House Crypto Summit this Friday, March 7. Crypto czar David Sacks teased “more to come” on X, hinting at details that might flesh out Trump’s vision—perhaps active BTC purchases via the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund or a stash of seized coins (the U.S. holds $17B worth, per Arkham). “This week’s Summit could be the real catalyst,” one X user speculated, “if they commit hard.”
But skepticism lingers. “There was no particularly new announcement,” Hasegawa added, suggesting Friday’s reveals must exceed Sunday’s hype to counter tariff fears. Without a crypto-specific lifeline, Bitcoin remains at the mercy of macro winds—hardly the decentralized dream its purists envisioned.
What’s Next for Crypto in March 2025?
Bitcoin’s fate hangs on two threads: Trump’s tariff rollout and Friday’s Summit clarity. A reserve buying spree could prop up prices, but trade war fallout might swamp any gains. Will $86,000 hold, or is $70,000 next? As MWC 2025 dazzles with Lenovo’s foldable laptops and Xiaomi’s EV tease, crypto traders brace for a volatile week. Stay tuned for Summit updates and market fallout!
