Bitcoin isn’t yet the safe asset people are looking for.
For a brief moment after President Donald Trump announced his tariffs, it looked as if Bitcoin (BTC 0.41%) could keep its head as markets all around it were losing theirs. The stock market plummeted on April 3 and April 4, as investors and businesses digested the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs (which have since been put on hold for three months).
Bitcoin dropped just over 1.5% while the S&P 500 lost more than 10% in those two days. It is a rare day when crypto is less volatile than stocks. But Bitcoin did stumble in the following days.
Let’s zoom out and look at how tariffs, should they be imposed, could affect Bitcoin.
How Bitcoin might weather the tariff storm
The full impact of tariffs on the economy and the U.S. dollar remains unclear. Bitcoin bulls argue this is its chance to shine.
A trade war could lead to higher inflation and a weaker U.S. dollar. Some experts believe this could eventually be good for Bitcoin. As Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale, told CoinDesk, “I think tariffs will weaken the dominant role of the dollar and create space for competitors including Bitcoin.”
Some people think Bitcoin has potential as a form of digital gold — a safe asset against inflation. Like gold, Bitcoin isn’t controlled by any government, and only a finite amount of Bitcoin will ever be produced. So far, Bitcoin’s resilience has been non-existent. For example, Bitcoin crashed in 2022 as inflation hit a 40-year high. Cryptocurrencies behave more like tech stocks than gold, and some see Bitcoin as too volatile to act as an inflation hedge.
However, we are now in uncharted territory. Not only is a planned 125% levy on Chinese imports unprecedented, but Bitcoin is also more established and accessible than in the 2018 U.S.-China trade war. This makes it more attractive for investors looking to diversify.
Tariff impacts could also be offset by other, pro-crypto policies. The administration responsible for tariffs has also made several crypto-friendly moves. These include:
- The formation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and digital asset stockpile
- Nominating Paul Atkins — a crypto advocate — to become Securities and Exchange Commission chairman
- Appointing David Sacks as White House artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto czar
How tariffs could drag Bitcoin down
On the other side, a global recession would have a big negative impact on Bitcoin’s price, particularly in the near term. As recession fears grow, crypto prices are feeling the pressure.
Bitcoin tends to struggle when investors get nervous. Bitcoin stumbled on recession expectations in 2018 and again in 2022. Business leaders like BlackRock‘s Larry Fink and JPMorgan Chase‘s Jamie Dimon are already warning of an economic slowdown. It is hard to overstate the potential impact of recession, inflation, and falling consumer confidence on Bitcoin’s price.
One concrete way tariffs might affect the crypto industry is through Bitcoin mining. U.S. miners may find it is more expensive to import equipment used to create new Bitcoin. This could cause miners to slow their activity — or even move elsewhere. Investors will have to wait and see how mining industry changes affect price and network security.
No investment is totally tariff-proof
If you’re looking for a safe asset during times of market turbulence, Bitcoin is not it. There are arguments for including a small percentage of Bitcoin in your portfolio. But it’s still a high-risk asset and the current turmoil doesn’t make it any safer.
People may turn to crypto if the tariff shockwaves deeply damage the global economy and traditional currencies. However, those same shockwaves could also trigger a serious Bitcoin price drop as markets shun risk-on investments.
Don’t make emotional decisions about your investments — if you have a balanced portfolio and a long-term horizon, stick with it. Depending on your goals and risk tolerance, you might opt to diversify with a little bit of Bitcoin. But only if you think it could have value in the coming decade or two.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
