Bitcoin Slides Amid Economic Uncertainty, Altcoins Follow Suit

Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market faced renewed selling pressure on Friday, as uncertainty over U.S. interest rates and trade tariffs dampened risk appetite. The market struggled to sustain gains from earlier in the week, as investors remained cautious about macroeconomic headwinds.

Bitcoin Under Pressure as Fed Holds Rates, Tariff Uncertainty Grows

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), fell 1.7% to $84,424.5 by 01:30 ET (05:30 GMT), tracking losses in risk-driven assets.

• Macroeconomic Concerns Weigh on Crypto Sentiment
  • Investor optimism took a hit after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady earlier this week, signaling elevated inflation risks and sluggish growth in 2025.
  • Market expectations for near-term rate cuts diminished, as the Fed projected a cautious approach to monetary easing.
  • Trump’s shifting tariff policies added further uncertainty, with the U.S. President maintaining threats of reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners by early April.
  • The U.S. dollar strengthened on Thursday and Friday, erasing its post-Fed decision losses, which added pressure on Bitcoin and other crypto assets.

Crypto markets, which typically thrive on liquidity and speculative interest, struggled in the face of heightened economic uncertainty. A risk-off environment in traditional markets spilled over into digital assets, curbing investor enthusiasm.

Altcoins Retreat After Short-Lived Rebound

Following Bitcoin’s decline, broader cryptocurrency prices also fell on Friday.

• Ethereum (ETH) – The world’s second-largest crypto fell below the $2,000 level, marking a retreat after a short-lived recovery earlier this week.
• XRP – One of the better performers in recent sessions, XRP was up 0.8% for the week after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its lawsuit against Ripple. However, it remained well below its two-week high reached earlier in the week.
• Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), and Polygon (MATIC) – These leading altcoins faced declines of 1.6%, 4.5%, and 3.1%, respectively.

Regulatory Developments Fail to Boost Crypto Sentiment

The SEC’s decision to drop its case against Ripple was widely expected, especially after Trump reshaped the agency’s leadership with more crypto-friendly figures. The agency had already withdrawn cases against Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) and Kraken, signaling a more lenient regulatory stance under the current administration.

Despite these developments, the broader crypto market struggled to find momentum, reflecting broader investor concerns over economic conditions.

Meme Coins and Speculative Assets Take a Hit

• Dogecoin (DOGE) lost 2.9%, while $TRUMP – a politically themed token – fell 3%.
• Meme-based cryptocurrencies, which typically see speculative trading activity, failed to gain traction in the current risk-off environment.

Outlook: Caution Dominates as Crypto Faces Macroeconomic Challenges

While crypto markets saw temporary relief earlier in the week, wider economic concerns and regulatory shifts continue to shape sentiment. The Fed’s cautious stance, Trump’s tariff threats, and a strengthening dollar are all factors that could limit upside momentum for Bitcoin and altcoins in the near term.

For now, investors remain wary of the economic landscape, with risk-driven assets struggling to regain favor. Crypto markets will likely look for further cues from upcoming economic data releases and central bank commentary before staging a decisive move.