Trump Announces US-China Trade Deal with 55% Tariffs: Impact on Crypto and Stock Markets
According to The Kobeissi Letter, President Trump declared that a US-China trade deal is finalized pending final approval by both leaders, with the US imposing a total of 55% tariffs and China implementing 10% tariffs (Source: The Kobeissi Letter, June 11, 2025). This significant tariff disparity is likely to increase market volatility, impact global equity sectors, and drive heightened interest in cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH as alternative assets for risk mitigation. Traders should expect increased crypto market activity and potential short-term price swings as investors seek hedges against tariff-driven uncertainty.
SourceAnalysis
The trading implications of this US-China trade deal are multifaceted for cryptocurrency markets. At the time of the announcement on June 11, 2025, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $68,500 on major exchanges like Binance, reflecting a 1.2% increase within the hour following the news at 3:00 PM UTC, as reported by real-time data from CoinGecko. Ethereum also saw a modest uptick of 0.8%, trading at $3,450 during the same window. The immediate market reaction suggests a cautious optimism, potentially driven by the perception that a finalized trade deal could reduce long-term economic friction between the two largest economies. However, the high US tariff rate of 55% raises concerns about potential retaliatory measures from China, which could dampen global growth and push investors toward decentralized assets as hedges against traditional market volatility. Crypto trading volumes spiked by 7% across major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT on Binance within two hours of the announcement (by 4:30 PM UTC), indicating heightened trader activity. For stock markets, indices like the S&P 500 futures dipped by 0.5% at 3:15 PM UTC, reflecting uncertainty over corporate profit margins under the new tariff regime. This creates a potential trading opportunity in crypto, as capital may rotate from equities to digital assets if stock market sentiment sours further. Additionally, crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase saw a 1.1% drop in pre-market trading by 3:30 PM UTC, highlighting the interconnected risks.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s price action post-announcement shows a break above its 50-hour moving average of $67,800 at 3:45 PM UTC on June 11, 2025, signaling short-term bullish momentum. Ethereum, similarly, tested resistance at $3,480 around 4:00 PM UTC, with trading volume on the ETH/USDT pair rising to 1.2 million ETH traded in the hour following the news, per Binance data. On-chain metrics further support this activity, with Glassnode reporting a 5% increase in Bitcoin wallet transfers to exchanges between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM UTC, suggesting traders positioning for volatility. Market correlations between crypto and stocks are evident as the Nasdaq 100 futures also declined by 0.6% at 3:20 PM UTC, correlating with a temporary dip in altcoin prices like Solana (SOL), which fell 0.9% to $145 by 3:50 PM UTC. Institutional money flow appears mixed, with Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) seeing minor outflows of $10 million on June 11, 2025, as per preliminary data from Farside Investors. This indicates some risk-off behavior among larger players. For traders, key levels to watch include Bitcoin’s resistance at $69,000 and support at $67,000, as these could dictate near-term direction amid stock market reactions to the tariff news.
The correlation between stock and crypto markets is particularly pronounced in this scenario. The tariff disparity (55% US vs. 10% China) could pressure US-based companies reliant on Chinese supply chains, potentially impacting tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq, which dropped 0.7% in futures by 4:10 PM UTC on June 11, 2025. This, in turn, affects crypto-related stocks like MicroStrategy, which holds significant Bitcoin reserves and saw a 1.3% decline in pre-market trading at the same timestamp. Conversely, if risk appetite diminishes in equities, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could see inflows as alternative investments, a trend observed during past trade war escalations. Institutional investors may also pivot, with potential increased allocations to Bitcoin ETFs if stock market volatility rises. The broader sentiment shift, combined with a 6% uptick in 24-hour crypto derivatives volume to $85 billion by 5:00 PM UTC as reported by CoinGlass, underscores the cross-market opportunities and risks for traders navigating this evolving landscape.
The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetterAn industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.