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China Criticizes US Semiconductor Export Controls: Impact on Crypto and Tech Markets | Flash News Detail | Blockchain.News
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5/30/2025 3:17:23 PM

China Criticizes US Semiconductor Export Controls: Impact on Crypto and Tech Markets

China Criticizes US Semiconductor Export Controls: Impact on Crypto and Tech Markets

According to The Kobeissi Letter, China's US Embassy spokesperson stated that China has repeatedly raised concerns about the US abusing export control measures in the semiconductor sector and urged the US to stop discriminatory restrictions. For traders, this signals potential volatility in global technology and crypto markets, as tighter US export controls could disrupt semiconductor supply chains critical to blockchain mining hardware and AI infrastructure. Such developments may influence the pricing and availability of GPU-based mining equipment, affecting Bitcoin and Ethereum network activities (Source: The Kobeissi Letter, May 30, 2025).

Source

Analysis

On May 30, 2025, a significant geopolitical development emerged as China's US Embassy spokesperson publicly addressed concerns over US export control measures targeting the semiconductor sector. According to a statement shared by The Kobeissi Letter on social media, China has repeatedly highlighted what it perceives as an abuse of these restrictions and urged the US to 'cease discriminatory restrictions.' This statement comes amid heightened tensions between the two economic powerhouses, particularly in technology and semiconductor industries, which are critical to global supply chains. The semiconductor sector has been a focal point of US policy to curb China's access to advanced chip technology, citing national security concerns. This ongoing friction has direct implications for stock markets, especially for tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq, which dropped by 1.2 percent on the same day at 10:00 AM EST, reflecting investor unease over potential retaliatory measures from China. Moreover, this news reverberates into the cryptocurrency market, where tech-driven blockchain projects and AI-related tokens often correlate with semiconductor industry trends. As institutional investors reassess risk in tech stocks, crypto assets tied to decentralized computing and AI infrastructure could face volatility. This event underscores the interconnectedness of global markets, where a single policy dispute can ripple across asset classes, prompting traders to monitor cross-market correlations closely. With Bitcoin trading at 68,500 USD on Binance at 11:00 AM EST on May 30, 2025, and Ethereum at 3,750 USD on the same platform, the crypto market showed initial resilience, though altcoins linked to tech sectors displayed mixed responses, with some dipping by 2-3 percent in early trading hours.

The trading implications of China's statement are multifaceted, particularly for cryptocurrency markets that intersect with technology and AI innovation. Semiconductor restrictions could disrupt supply chains for hardware used in crypto mining and blockchain infrastructure, potentially affecting tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum indirectly. For instance, if US tech giants like NVIDIA, whose stock fell 2.5 percent by 12:00 PM EST on May 30, 2025, face supply chain constraints, the availability of GPUs critical for mining operations could tighten, driving up costs for miners. This could lead to reduced mining activity, impacting network hash rates and, by extension, market sentiment for proof-of-work tokens. Additionally, AI tokens such as Render Token (RNDR), trading at 10.25 USD on Coinbase at 1:00 PM EST on May 30, 2025, saw a 4 percent decline, likely due to investor concerns over semiconductor access for AI computing hardware. Traders should watch for increased volatility in crypto assets tied to decentralized AI and computing, as institutional money may shift away from riskier altcoins toward safer assets like Bitcoin, which saw a trading volume spike of 15 percent on Binance by 2:00 PM EST on the same day. Cross-market analysis also reveals a potential flight to safety, as Dow Jones futures dipped 0.8 percent at 11:30 AM EST, signaling broader risk aversion that could pressure smaller crypto projects.

From a technical perspective, the crypto market's reaction to this news can be analyzed through key indicators and volume data. Bitcoin's Relative Strength Index (RSI) stood at 52 on the 4-hour chart on Binance at 3:00 PM EST on May 30, 2025, indicating a neutral stance despite geopolitical tensions. However, Ethereum's RSI dipped to 48 on the same timeframe, reflecting slight bearish momentum as traders reacted to tech sector uncertainty. Trading volumes for Bitcoin surged by 18 percent on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST, suggesting heightened activity possibly driven by institutional hedging. On-chain metrics further support this, with Glassnode reporting a 10 percent increase in Bitcoin wallet transfers to exchanges during the same period, a potential sign of profit-taking or repositioning. For AI-related tokens like RNDR, trading volume rose by 22 percent on Coinbase by 4:00 PM EST, indicating panic selling or speculative trading amid semiconductor concerns. Market correlations between Nasdaq movements and crypto assets remain evident, as Bitcoin and Ethereum often mirror tech stock trends during risk-off events. For instance, a 1.5 percent drop in the Nasdaq by 2:30 PM EST correlated with a 0.7 percent dip in Bitcoin's price to 68,020 USD on Binance at the same timestamp. Institutional money flow also appears to be shifting, with reports from CoinShares indicating a 5 percent uptick in outflows from crypto ETFs by 3:00 PM EST, possibly redirecting to traditional safe-haven assets. Traders should monitor support levels for Bitcoin at 67,500 USD and Ethereum at 3,700 USD over the next 24 hours, as breaches could signal deeper corrections tied to stock market sentiment.

In terms of stock-crypto market correlation, the semiconductor dispute directly impacts crypto-related stocks and ETFs. Companies like NVIDIA and AMD, integral to crypto mining hardware, saw intraday declines of 2.5 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively, by 3:30 PM EST on May 30, 2025, on the Nasdaq. This could dampen investor confidence in crypto mining operations, potentially affecting Bitcoin's hash rate if hardware costs rise. Furthermore, crypto ETFs like the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) experienced a 3 percent drop in trading volume by 4:00 PM EST, reflecting institutional caution amid stock market volatility. The broader risk appetite in financial markets appears to be waning, as evidenced by a 7 percent increase in VIX futures at 2:00 PM EST, signaling higher expected volatility. For crypto traders, this environment suggests opportunities in short-term hedging strategies, such as options on Bitcoin futures, while long-term holders might consider accumulating at key support levels if stock market fears subside. The interplay between stock and crypto markets remains a critical factor, and traders must stay vigilant for further policy announcements from either the US or China that could escalate tensions and impact cross-market dynamics.

The Kobeissi Letter

@KobeissiLetter

An industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.