Fed’s Waller sparked market attention Monday by suggesting potential rate cuts if Trump-era tariffs return—fueling modest gains in crypto and equities.
Bitcoin (BTC) edged higher following the comments, rising 1.6% over the past 24 hours to trade just below $85,000. Ether (ETH) also gained 2.7% during the same period, reaching around $1,630.
Equity markets followed suit after weeks of turbulence. The Nasdaq closed 0.6% higher, while the S&P 500 added 0.8%. Crypto-related stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR) and Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) both jumped roughly 3%.
Waller warned that the reimposition of tariffs could have long-lasting effects on employment and output, potentially forcing the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to revise its monetary policy stance.
“If the slowdown is significant and even threatens a recession, then I would expect to favor cutting the FOMC’s policy rate sooner, and to a greater extent than I had previously thought,” he said in a speech.
Market sentiment further improved as the European Commission announced a delay in retaliatory tariffs on $21 billion worth of U.S. goods. The pause, effective until July 14, allows room for further negotiations between the U.S. and EU.
On Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction platform, the odds of a trade deal between the U.S. and EU rose to 65% after former President Donald Trump reportedly said that negotiations were already underway.
Bitcoin Shows Signs of Strength as Network Fundamentals Improve
Bitcoin’s recent bounce from last week’s tariff-driven dip lost momentum near the $85,000 resistance zone. However, analysts at SwissBlock Technologies say the cryptocurrency’s underlying fundamentals are steadily improving—raising hopes for a breakout.
“Since March, we’ve observed a steady inflow of new market participants,” the firm stated in a Telegram update. “Liquidity has begun to stabilize, with fewer erratic price movements compared to early 2025.”
According to SwissBlock, a sustained hold above the 50-point liquidity threshold often precedes stronger price performance in the short term.
They also noted that network expansion is supporting this momentum. “Key price zones aren’t just being tested—they’re being absorbed through accumulation,” the analysts explained.
“This kind of structural support forms the backbone of lasting upward trends,” they concluded.