The crypto market experienced heightened volatility this weekend, entering a risk-off phase as February began. A sharp drop followed President Trump's announcement of tariffs targeting key U.S. trading partners, reigniting concerns over a potential full-scale trade war. This has raised fears about disruptions to global supply chains, the resurgence of inflation, and a deceleration of economic growth. Investors are closely monitoring Bitcoin's key support at $90,000, with some predicting a deeper pullback toward $80,000 if BTC falls significantly below this level. However, we view these movements as short-term fluctuations and expect the market to recover swiftly. In the last 24 hours, over $2.3 billion was liquidated across the cryptocurrency market. The BTC/ETH spread has narrowed to its lowest level in almost five years, contributing to a significant spike in DVOL, surpassing 100% as traders reacted to the sharp price drop by chasing put options.
On the geopolitical front, President Trump followed through on his long-standing threats, imposing tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The tariffs—25% on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on Chinese imports—are set to take effect on Tuesday, impacting the $1.6 trillion trade the U.S. conducts with these countries. Canada swiftly retaliated with its own tariffs, sending its currency to its weakest point since 2003. In response, China is reportedly pursuing legal action through the World Trade Organization and has vowed to implement necessary countermeasures. Mexican President confirmed this morning that the U.S. tariffs will be delayed by a month following a discussion with President Trump.
On a positive note, President Trump's appointed Crypto Czar, David Sacks, is scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow, where he will outline efforts to solidify the U.S. as a leader in the global digital asset space.
MicroStrategy has ended its 12-week Bitcoin buying streak, keeping its total holdings at 471,107 BTC, valued at over $44 billion. The firm, which has spent approximately $30.4 billion on Bitcoin acquisitions, did not sell any shares or purchase Bitcoin between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2. Despite raising $563.4 million through its preferred stock plan, MicroStrategy paused new purchases, though its long-term “21/21 plan” aims to raise $42 billion for future acquisitions. Analysts at Mizuho remain bullish on Bitcoin and MicroStrategy, forecasting a potential 30% BTC price increase in the next three years.
Shares of Japan’s Metaplanet fell 9.44% on Monday, while Hong Kong’s OKG Tech dropped 9.09%, as fears over potential new U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China triggered a sell-off in Asian crypto-related stocks. Boyaa Interactive, China’s largest public corporate Bitcoin holder, also declined 4.64%. The broader market saw Japan’s Nikkei 225 drop 2.66% and South Korea’s Kospi fall 2.52%. Analysts attribute the sell-off to delayed reactions from Asian investors following Trump’s tariff announcement, sparking concerns over increased market volatility and trade tensions.
Russia’s Ministry of Energy has announced plans to establish a mandatory registry for crypto mining equipment, aiming to better track and regulate mining activities. Led by Deputy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak, the initiative is part of amendments to existing mining laws, with unregistered mining set to become “impossible.” This follows a November ban on crypto mining in six regions, including occupied Ukrainian territories, to address power shortages. Additionally, Russia’s Federal Tax Service has introduced an online function for miners to report digital currency earnings, aligning with a new tax framework that imposes levies of 13–15% on mining income.
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