After a volatile few weeks, the crypto market has shown renewed strength. Over the past seven days, Bitcoin (BTC) climbed 8.42%, Ethereum (ETH) rose 6.38%, and XRP saw an impressive 13.55% gain. Among the top 20 cryptocurrencies, Solana (SOL) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) led the charge, with SOL up 16.68% and BCH rising 17%.
While crypto has moved into the green, global markets continue to digest the implications of significant political and economic developments—particularly the renewed escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions.
Trump Eases Tariffs Globally—Except for China
In a dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy, President Trump announced a 90-day suspension of newly imposed tariffs for most countries. A baseline 10% tariff remains, but steeper rates have been paused for nations that have refrained from retaliatory measures. The move has been described as a “lowered reciprocal tariff” designed to reopen diplomatic dialogue.
However, the tone towards China has hardened. Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, citing a lack of progress and “disrespect” from Beijing. China had previously responded with an 84% levy on U.S. goods, leading to what now appears to be one of the most serious escalations in the long-running trade dispute.
Financial markets reacted quickly. U.S. bond yields surged to a multi-year high of 4.5% before retreating as equities rallied. The S&P 500 closed nearly 10% higher, while the Dow gained 7.8%. Trump defended the targeted approach, stating that the pause was intended to reward cooperative countries, while pressuring China into further negotiations.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has flagged the U.S.-China trade conflict as a critical threat to global commerce, with projections suggesting that bilateral trade could contract by as much as 80% if current conditions persist.
China Appoints New Lead Trade Negotiator
Amid rising pressure from Washington, Beijing has made a key personnel change. Li Chenggang, formerly China's ambassador to the WTO, will replace Wang Shouwen as chief trade negotiator. Li brings deep legal expertise and prior experience dealing with U.S. counterparts.
While no official explanation was given, the shift suggests Beijing may be considering a new approach to break the current stalemate. Analysts say this move could pave the way for recalibrated trade talks, although the overall tone between the two nations remains confrontational.
U.S. Tightens Chip Export Rules—Nvidia Shares Slide
U.S. regulators have dealt a fresh blow to Nvidia, halting exports of its H20 AI chip to China and Hong Kong. The chip had been specifically designed to comply with earlier export restrictions, but U.S. officials now claim the product poses national security risks.
Nvidia warned it may take a charge of up to $5.5 billion as a result. The news sent shares tumbling more than 6% in pre-market trading. The policy shift highlights the continued volatility of the U.S.–China tech relationship and raises new concerns about the global AI supply chain.
The decision comes just weeks before Nvidia’s Q1 earnings report, scheduled for May 28, and could affect investor confidence in the company’s longer-term outlook in Asia.
U.S. Inflation Cools, But Uncertainty Remains
March inflation data offered some relief for policymakers. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.1% month-on-month, pushing the annual rate down to 2.4%. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose by just 0.1%, bringing the year-on-year figure to 2.8%—the lowest since March 2021.
A decline in energy prices and a slowdown in shelter inflation contributed to the softening. However, food prices remained elevated, with egg prices rising 6% month-on-month and remaining more than 60% higher year-on-year.
While the data suggests inflationary pressure is easing, the long-term picture remains unclear. Markets are watching closely to see how Trump’s tariff policy will affect consumer prices in the months ahead.
Bitcoin ETFs See Outflows—But Market Stability Holds
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced net outflows of $872 million between April 3 and April 10, raising concerns about investor appetite. However, trading volumes remain strong and Bitcoin’s price has shown relative stability, hovering around $83,000 over the past month.
Some analysts see the muted price action as a sign that Bitcoin is maturing as a long-term asset, rather than responding to short-term speculation. Bitcoin has outperformed the S&P 500 by 4% over the past month, suggesting continued relevance as a portfolio diversified.
At the same time, gold has gained 23% year-to-date, reaching an all-time high of $3,245. Bitcoin, while down 32% from its 2025 peak, continues to attract institutional interest, even amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
Janover Backs Solana as Treasury Asset
Real estate tech firm Janover has made headlines by becoming the first publicly listed U.S. company to hold Solana (SOL) as a core treasury asset. The company recently acquired 80,567 SOL—worth approximately $10.5 million—bringing its total holdings to 163,651 SOL ($21 million).
The firm has also entered a tentative agreement with Kraken, which may delegate staked SOL to Janover’s validators. Janover’s leadership now includes former Kraken executives, further deepening the link between the two companies.
The timing of Janover’s move coincides with the launch of Canada’s first spot Solana ETFs on April 16, adding to bullish sentiment. SOL has gained over 20% in the past week, outpacing most major cryptocurrencies.
Analyst opinions remain divided on SOL’s near-term price potential. Some see a push toward $200 as likely, while others expect consolidation around the $125–$135 range, where the token has shown strong technical support.
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