The crypto market experienced heightened volatility in the past 24 hours, triggering significant liquidations

The crypto market experienced heightened volatility in the past 24 hours, triggering significant liquidations. The total crypto market cap slipped 2% to hover about $2.68 trillion

The crypto market experienced heightened volatility in the past 24 hours, triggering significant liquidations. The total crypto market cap slipped 2 percent to hover about $2.68 trillion on Thursday, April 3, during the mid-Eastern financial market trading session.

According to data from the crypto derivatives exchange FTX, more than $490 million was rekt in the past 24 hours from over 160k traders, mostly involving long traders. The largest liquidation order in the past 24 hours happened on the Binance exchange with ETH/USDT valued at around $12 million.

Major Forces Behind Today’s Crypto Market Drop

Trade Tensions from U.S. Tariffs and Inflation Fears

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump concluded the Make America Wealthy Again event with an average 10 percent increase in reciprocal tariffs. Among the most hit by the new reciprocal tariffs are European countries and nations associated with the BRICS movement, led by China, and South Africa.

According to the administration, the new tariffs will at least side $600 billion per year to the U.S., while also projecting an increase in inflation to around 5 percent. Among the new tariffs are 10 percent on all dutiable imports from the European Union, and 25 percent on a limited range of Chinese goods.

Heavy Selloff in the Stock Market

The mainstream adoption of crypto assets by institutional investors and retail traders has significantly increased the correlation of digital assets with the stock market. In the past 24 hours, following the announcement of the reciprocal tariffs by the United States, the S&P 500 futures erased around $2 trillion of market cap in 15 minutes.

The major selloff in the stock market also affected the crypto market, especially with increased fears of further selloff. As the financial institutions and brokers shut down their terminal, the S&P 500 futures dumped more than $2 trillion in a 15-minute period, starting at 12:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The selloff was triggered by the U.S. administration's decision to increase tariffs on goods imported from the European Union, China, and other major economies.

Technical Fears

In the past few days, Bitcoin (BTC) price led the wider altcoin market in forming a rising wedge pattern, in the four-hour time frame. With Bitcoin price having been rejected above $87k in the past few days, a crypto correction was imminent, led by Ethereum (ETH).