Today’s Cryptocurrency: Pi Coin Rises, BTC and XRP Hold Key Levels Amid Tariff-Driven $63B Market Loss

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The cryptocurrency market faced significant turbulence on Tuesday as global sentiment shifted following U.S. manufacturing assets losing an estimated $63 billion in value due to renewed tariff concerns. Despite broad market declines, several digital assets—including Pi Coin, Bitcoin (BTC), and Ripple (XRP)—showed resilience, holding critical support levels and even posting gains amid volatile conditions.

Total crypto market capitalization dipped below $2.7 trillion, marking a 3.4% drop as sell-offs intensified across major asset classes. However, strategic investor interventions and key listing developments provided pockets of optimism in an otherwise bearish landscape.


Bitcoin Holds Above $82K Amid $390M in Liquidations

Bitcoin stabilized above the $82,000 support level, maintaining investor confidence despite a 13% pullback from its recent intraday high of $95,000—set shortly after weekend speculation about a potential U.S. cryptocurrency strategic reserve under a possible Trump administration.

Market data from Coinglass reveals that over $390 million in long BTC positions were liquidated within 24 hours, accounting for nearly 40% of the total $1 billion in crypto derivatives liquidations during the same period. This wave of margin calls was triggered by rapid price swings and increased leverage unwinding, particularly on U.S.-focused exchanges.

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Despite the pressure, strong buying interest emerged near $81,500, suggesting institutional accumulation or algorithmic support at psychologically significant levels. Analysts note that sustained trading above $82,000 could set the stage for a recovery toward $88,000–$90,000 if macro sentiment improves.

Key factors influencing BTC’s stability:


Altcoin Market: Privacy Coins Gain as U.S.-Linked Projects Suffer

While Bitcoin showed relative strength, the broader altcoin market experienced sharp outflows. Within 24 hours of former President Donald Trump’s announcement of proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, over $40 billion was withdrawn from U.S.-linked altcoins.

According to Coinmarketcap, “Made in America” themed tokens dropped an average of 14.75% on Tuesday, contributing to a total sector-wide loss of approximately $63 billion. High-profile meme coins built on Solana also saw double-digit declines, with some shedding over 20% as traders rotated into more stable or privacy-focused assets.

XRP maintained its position above the crucial $2.00 support level, drawing renewed interest from long-term bulls who view the current dip as a strategic entry point. With Ripple’s ongoing legal clarity and expanding enterprise adoption, many analysts believe XRP remains well-positioned for mid-term growth despite short-term headwinds.


Pi Network Surges After CoinMarketCap Listing

In a notable development, Pi Network (PI) became the only top 20 cryptocurrency to post gains during the market downturn, rising 2.3% to trade above $1.74 with a market cap exceeding $12.1 billion.

Pi Coin’s ascent follows its official listing on CoinMarketCap—a milestone that significantly boosts visibility and legitimacy for the mobile-mining-focused project. Previously restricted to peer-to-peer and OTC trading due to anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance challenges, Pi has recently gained traction on major platforms like Bitget, with Binance listing rumors gaining momentum.

The integration with established data aggregators enhances trust and accessibility, driving new demand from retail investors seeking early exposure to emerging ecosystems.

Pi Network’s core appeal lies in its user-friendly mining model—allowing individuals to earn cryptocurrency directly through their smartphones—combined with increasing emphasis on real-world utility and decentralized identity solutions.

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This combination of accessibility and growing infrastructure support positions Pi as a unique player in the next wave of mass-market crypto adoption.


Market Movers: Aave Expands to Sonic, Flowdesk Raises $102M

Aave Launches Lending Market on Sonic

Aave has officially launched its lending protocol on Sonic—a rebranded evolution of Fantom’s Layer 1 chain—marking its first Layer 1 expansion in 2025 following governance approval.

This deployment includes substantial liquidity commitments aimed at boosting capital efficiency and enabling native yield opportunities on Sonic’s upgraded infrastructure, which now features improved fee monetization mechanisms.

Notably, this expansion coincides with Aave’s decision to sunset its lending market on Polygon PoS, signaling a strategic pivot toward high-performance, independently secured blockchains with strong developer ecosystems.

The move underscores Aave’s commitment to multi-chain dominance while adapting to shifting network economics across the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape.

Flowdesk Secures $102M to Scale Crypto Services

French-based crypto trading firm Flowdesk raised $102 million in a mix of equity and debt financing led by HV Capital. The funding will accelerate development in tokenization, OTC derivatives, and crypto credit desks—areas seeing rising demand from institutional players.

With plans to hire additional talent and open a new office in the UAE, Flowdesk aims to strengthen its global footprint during a period of renewed market growth. The investment highlights growing confidence in professional-grade trading infrastructure as digital assets gain broader financial acceptance.


Nasdaq Files for Grayscale Hedera (HBAR) Spot ETF

In a significant regulatory step, Nasdaq has submitted a Form 19b-4 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list Grayscale’s Hedera (HBAR) spot ETF.

This filing marks a pivotal moment in the expanding race for altcoin ETF approvals. If published in the Federal Register, it will initiate the formal SEC review process—mirroring earlier procedures for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

Approval would grant institutional investors regulated exposure to Hedera Hashgraph’s enterprise-grade distributed ledger technology, known for its high throughput, low fees, and governance by major global organizations.

The application reflects growing interest in diversified crypto investment products beyond BTC and ETH—potentially paving the way for future Solana, Cardano, or Polkadot ETFs.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why did Pi Coin rise while most cryptocurrencies fell?
A: Pi Coin’s gain is largely attributed to its listing on CoinMarketCap, which increased visibility and investor confidence. As one of the few top 20 cryptos not previously widely traded on major exchanges, this move unlocked new demand.

Q: Is Bitcoin’s $82K level sustainable?
A: Yes, technical indicators suggest strong buying interest at this level. Combined with declining exchange supplies and growing ETF inflows outside the U.S., $82K appears to be a robust short-term floor.

Q: What impact do Trump’s tariff proposals have on crypto markets?
A: Tariff fears trigger risk-off behavior, leading investors to exit speculative assets—including U.S.-themed altcoins. However, they may also increase interest in decentralized alternatives perceived as insulated from traditional policy shocks.

Q: Could the HBAR ETF be approved?
A: While no outcome is guaranteed, the Nasdaq filing indicates serious regulatory progress. Given recent precedents with other spot ETFs, approval is possible within 6–12 months if no major objections arise.

Q: Why is Aave moving away from Polygon?
A: Aave’s shift reflects changing priorities in DeFi infrastructure. Sonic offers better performance incentives and fee structures post-rebranding, making it more attractive than Polygon PoS for capital-efficient lending markets.

Q: How does Flowdesk’s funding affect crypto traders?
A: The $102M raise will enhance institutional-grade trading tools, improve liquidity for less-traded assets, and expand access to structured products like OTC derivatives and tokenized credit.


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As regulatory clarity improves and infrastructure evolves, cryptocurrencies continue to mature as both speculative and strategic financial assets. Whether it's privacy-focused projects like Pi Network gaining legitimacy or established protocols like Aave expanding into new ecosystems, the foundation for long-term growth remains strong—even amid short-term volatility.