• Bitcoin rose 1.25% in the past 24 hours, trading above $84,000 amid intraday swings and macro uncertainty.
• Altcoin performance remains uneven. While EOS and Sui posted strong gains, DeXe and Jupiter saw sharp declines.
• U.S. crypto-related stocks delivered mixed results, with Strategy and Hut 8 surging, while Coinbase showed limited recovery.
• BlackRock’s UK crypto license and Grayscale’s proposal to convert its Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC) into a spot ETF signal growing institutional interest.

The cryptocurrency market moved through another jittery 24-hour cycle, with a tepid 0.46% rise in total market capitalization reflecting the unresolved tension between bullish institutional undercurrents and macroeconomic headwinds. As of early Wednesday morning, the market sits at $2.7 trillion, anchored by Bitcoin’s commanding 61.8% share—proof that when in doubt, investors still turn to the original digital asset.

Bitcoin (BTC) climbed 1.25% in the past 24 hours, recovering from a brief dip below $83,000 to trade near $84,210, as per CoinMarketCap data. The bounceback, driven by constrained exchange supply and ongoing institutional accumulation, suggests that long-term holders remain unfazed—even as traders navigate hourly volatility. Still, Bitcoin’s market cap now sits around $1.68 trillion, a towering presence in an otherwise fragmented market.

Ethereum, meanwhile, has been relatively quiet. Despite holding 8.31% of the market, its lackluster response to founder Vitalik Buterin’s unveiling of a new “Privacy Pools” feature hints at an investor community waiting for real-world usage rather than technical fanfare. The upgrade may yet bolster Ethereum’s long-term value proposition, but for now, the market is noncommittal.

EOS, MKR Gains While DEXE, JUP Stumbles

Outside the crypto heavyweights, the last 24 hours have exposed the whiplash investors face in the altcoin arena. EOS surged 14.11% to $0.77, possibly benefiting from renewed interest in its smart contract framework. Maker (MKR), another notable gainer, climbed 3% to $1,341.

But the market giveth and taketh away—DeXe (DEXE) cratered nearly 17.86% to $14.79, likely a victim of profit-taking after recent highs. Jupiter (JUP) tumbled 6.77%, underscoring just how fast sentiment can shift in this sector. The bifurcation suggests selective investor confidence rather than broad-based enthusiasm.

Wall Street’s Crypto Exposure Sees a Mixed Bag

Crypto-adjacent stocks in U.S. markets reflected similar ambivalence, with Tuesday’s session serving up a patchwork of gains and modest rebounds. Strategy (MSTR), Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin-heavy enterprise software firm, led the charge with a 6.16% jump to $306.02, tracking closely with Bitcoin’s rally.

Hut 8 Corp (HUT) was another standout, posting a 14.63% gain. But not all crypto bellwethers shared in the upside. Coinbase (COIN) ticked up just 1.33% to $174.52, continuing a muted recovery after a 31% Q1 decline. The exchange’s performance underscores the market’s cautious posture amid concerns about regulatory scrutiny and the firm’s exposure to retail volumes.

Riot Platforms (RIOT), Marathon Digital (MARA), and other miners logged gains between 3–6%, buoyed by Bitcoin’s ascent and improved sentiment in risk-on tech stocks. The broader S&P 500 rose 0.38%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.87%, reflecting tentative optimism ahead of President Trump’s anticipated tariff announcement.

Tariff Fears Loom Large

The looming “Liberation Day” tariff announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump has injected a heavy dose of geopolitical uncertainty into global markets. Set for release later today, the tariff plan is expected to target a wide swath of U.S. trade partners, reigniting fears of a new trade war.

“Trump’s tariff announcement could significantly impact the crypto market momentum,” said Shivam Thakral, CEO of BuyUcoin. “The increased correlation between the traditional market and Bitcoin is clearly visible.”

Bitcoin has already slipped 2.3% this month amid risk-off sentiment, a signal that macro anxieties may be overpowering the narrative of crypto as a hedge—at least for now. But others see opportunity on the horizon. The specter of economic instability, some argue, could eventually push investors toward alternative assets, including Bitcoin and gold, if inflation or supply chain disruptions reemerge.

Institutions Push Ahead, Regardless

Against this macroeconomic backdrop, the drumbeat of institutional adoption continues. BlackRock’s UK subsidiary received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a crypto asset firm, marking a significant regulatory milestone in one of the world’s most influential financial jurisdictions. The $12 trillion asset manager’s growing crypto ambitions could help normalize digital assets among traditional investors.

Meanwhile, Grayscale has submitted a proposal to convert its Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC) into a spot ETF, a move that—if approved—would give XRP its most prominent U.S. investment vehicle to date. The fund’s current basket allocation includes 5.85% XRP and nearly 80% Bitcoin, which could help diversify institutional exposure beyond the flagship coin.

And in a story straddling finance and humanitarianism, Binance pledged $1.5 million in crypto to earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar and Thailand. While the market response has been muted, the gesture underscores crypto’s evolving role in global aid and infrastructure resilience.

The Week Ahead: Crossroads or Cliff?

As April unfolds, markets are navigating a tense, contradictory moment: institutional advancements and technical innovation are building a long-term bullish case, but near-term jitters—fueled by Trump-era trade rhetoric and geopolitical brinkmanship—threaten to delay that future.

Eric Trump’s recent claim that major corporations are hoarding Bitcoin may eventually prove prescient. But for now, price action shows that investors are still more reactive than resolute.

The next few days could set the tone for Q2. If tariff details spook global markets, crypto may see another leg down before bouncing back. But if institutional momentum continues to gather steam—and if regulatory winds don’t shift too harshly—digital assets could find firmer footing as the quarter progresses.

Bottom Line: The crypto market stands at an inflection point. Macro headwinds are testing its resilience, but the undercurrent of institutional validation grows stronger. Whether the next move is up or down may depend less on the blockchain—and more on what comes out of Washington.

Read Also: Crypto Markets Stumble as Tariffs, Liquidations, and Policy Missteps Trigger Broad Selloff

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