April 3, 2026
Trump Tariffs Crashed Crypto: What the Liberation Day Sell-Off Teaches About Exit Plans
By Matt Wheeler · April 3, 2026
On April 2, 2026, President Trump announced sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs — a 10% baseline on all imports plus reciprocal rates hitting 34% on China, 20% on the EU, and 25% on South Korea. Within hours, global markets shed over $5 trillion in value. Bitcoin briefly dropped below $82,000. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 9 — deep into Extreme Fear territory. And millions of crypto holders had the same thought: “Should I sell everything right now?”