1 min read.

BTCUSD

Main Takeaways:

• Bitcoin on the verge of a 10% Q1 decline
• Markets anticipate major moves from the White House
• Q2 brings potential risks of tariffs and trade wars

The future of the crypto market will largely depend on forthcoming policy decisions by the White House, particularly those made by its crypto working group.

🔍 A Glance at Q1

Bitcoin BTCUSD has had a sluggish start to this week’s trading (possibly due to the EU’s hour shift forward over the weekend?), with prices hovering below the flatline around $82,000. Today marks the conclusion of the first quarter — a cause for celebration for some — and with it, the close of Bitcoin’s three-month performance. The quarter was primarily characterized by disappointment. Despite hosting its inaugural crypto gala and promising significant developments in the sector, the White House failed to energize crypto traders.

📉 Bitcoin’s 10% Q1 Loss

Bitcoin is poised to end the first quarter of 2025 with a 10% loss. Prices opened around $93,500 on January 1 but have since shed approximately $12,000, hitting a two-week low today. The situation could have been worse — Bitcoin reached a five-month low of $76,000 in mid-March, erasing all post-election gains. But let’s shift our focus from the past to the present and future. If the White House can deliver on its grand promises regarding growth, prosperity, and widespread business and user adoption, there could be exciting times ahead.

🔮 Q2 Outlook

The White House’s crypto working group has committed to expanding the industry’s presence in the US through deregulation, pro-crypto policies, and a generally more welcoming approach to the sector compared to Joe Biden’s stringent stance. However, the second quarter brings the risk of tariffs, which pose a threat to global trade, as they have the potential to hinder economic growth, damage corporate revenues and profits, and generally undermine consumer confidence.

The post BTC/USD Forecast: Bitcoin Poised for 10% Q1 Pullback. What Lies in Store for Q2? appeared first on Crypto Market Insights: Dive In with CryptoUpdate.io.

Trade Wars to Pressure Crypto Markets till April: Analysts

Despite numerous positive crypto-specific developments, the crypto markets will remain under the shadow of global tariff fears at least until April 2, says Nicolai Sondergaard, a research analyst at Nansen. Risk assets may lack clear direction until tariff-related issues are settled, which could occur between April and July, according to Sondergaard, potentially creating a positive market catalyst. President Trump’s reciprocal tariff rates are due to take effect on April 2, contradicting earlier statements by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that hinted at a possible delay.

Tether in Talks with Big Four for First Full Financial Audit: Report

Tether is reportedly in discussions with a Big Four auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of its asset reserve and confirm the 1:1 backing of its USDT stablecoin. Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, expects the audit process to be smoother under the pro-crypto US President Donald Trump, amidst growing concerns about a possible FTX-style liquidity crisis for Tether due to its absence of third-party audits. Ardoino expressed optimism about Tether’s audit, but he refrained from naming the Big Four auditing firm—PwC, EY, Deloitte, or KPMG—with which Tether plans to collaborate.

Tornado Cash Removed from US Sanctions List

The US Treasury Department has officially removed Tornado Cash, a crypto mixer, from its sanctions list. This decision follows a January ruling by a US appeals court which indicated that the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) cannot sanction Tornado’s smart contracts as they do not belong to any foreign national. The Treasury announced on March 21 that OFAC has removed several dozen Ethereum-based smart contract addresses affiliated with Tornado from its sanctions list. Tornado’s native token, Tornado Cash (TORN), surged by around 60% on this news, with a market cap of approximately $73 million and a fully diluted value of nearly $140 million, according to CoinMarketCap data.

The post Crypto Daily Roundup: Tether Plans for Audit, Crypto Market Pressure, Tornado Cash Off Sanctions List appeared first on Crypto Market Insights: Dive In with CryptoUpdate.io.