Bitcoin and most altcoin prices continued their strong downtrend on Monday as market participants braced for a recession.
Bitcoin (BTC) plunged to a low of $74,428 on April 7, its lowest level since November 6, and down by over 31% from its highest point this year.
Altcoins did much worse as many investors exited their positions. Ethereum (ETH) crashed below $1,500 and moved to its lowest level since 2023. The other top laggards were coins like Berachain (BERA), Zcash (ZEC), Litecoin (LTC), and Maker (MKR).
The ongoing crypto market crash mirrored the stock market’s performance, with the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100, and S&P 500 each falling by over 5% but has staged a late morning comeback.
These assets plunged after Donald Trump remained adamant that his Liberation Day tariffs would continue, citing the large US trade deficits. This trade war has pushed more analysts, including those from Goldman Sachs to boost their recession odds.
Why Bitcoin and altcoins may rebound after the Black Monday
Still, there are two main reasons why stocks and crypto prices may bounce back soon. First, there are signs that Trump is open to negotiations with other countries. In a statement on Friday, he said that Vietnam was ready to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods.
In another statement on Monday, he said that talks were underway with Japan, a top trading partner. Japan is now sending a team of negotiators to the U.S., which could result in a significant deal, including a purchase agreement.
With the U.S. stock market under pressure, there’s a likelihood that Trump will seek a major deal with countries like China and those in the European Union.
Second, there is a likelihood that the Federal Reserve will intervene as it has done in the past black swan events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis. Traders expect five interest rate cuts this year, including an emergency one. In a note, a Bloomberg analyst said:
“The Federal Reserve may soon not have a choice but to cut rates. Tariffs raise the ugly specter of inflation, true, but if growth turns pear-shaped, the Fed will have no choice but to prioritize the economy.”
Therefore, a combination of interest rate cuts and trade negotiations could help reverse the ongoing crypto market crash. For example, Bitcoin and altcoins surged to record highs in 2021 after the Fed slashed interest rates and implemented quantitative easing during the pandemic.
