Jun 6, 2026
Opinion/Home · Opinion

Cryptocurrency Market Outlook and Key Variables Amid the Launch of Trump's Second Term and Trade War

As of May 2025, the cryptocurrency market is reacting sensitively to the movements of major coins such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), along

김민철 기자
Staff Reporter
5 min read
[포커스] 암호화폐 시장, 트럼프 대통령의 정책과 글로벌 경제 변수 속에서 방향성 모색
비트코인은 5월들어 호조를 보이면서 상승세를 타고 있으나, 이후 차익 실현 매물과 미국 연방준비제도(Fed)의 금리 인상 우려로 인해 등락을 반복하고 있다. / CBC News

As of May 2025, the cryptocurrency market is reacting sensitively to the movements of major coins such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), along with President Donald Trump's policy changes and global economic issues.

Bitcoin showed an upward trend entering May, but it has been experiencing fluctuations due to the emergence of profit-taking sell-offs and concerns over interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve (Fed). Ethereum, as of late April, is showing signs of a rebound and attracting investors' attention, with the recovery in the DeFi and NFT markets also driving the upward momentum. On the other hand, Ripple (XRP) continues to face uncertainty due to the prolonged legal dispute with the US SEC. Although it achieved a partial victory in a recent court ruling, the prevailing opinion is that a conservative approach is necessary until the overall lawsuit outcome is finalized.

President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2025, beginning his second term. Since taking office, he has issued approximately 140 executive orders, attempting to bring changes in various fields such as immigration, trade, energy, and federal workforce policies. In particular, by announcing plans to impose 100% tariffs, he is pushing a强硬 trade policy to protect domestic industries, essentially triggering a trade war. Additionally, the Trump administration is showing changes in its foreign policy, such as temporarily suspending military aid to Ukraine.

The future trend of the cryptocurrency market depends on the following variables:

• US Interest Rate Policy: Whether the Fed will raise interest rates could have a major impact on the market. • SEC's ETF Approval: The approval of a spot Ethereum ETF could send a positive signal to the market. • President Trump's Trade Policy: A强硬 trade policy, such as the imposition of 100% tariffs, could affect the global economy. • Global Economic Uncertainty: Uncertainty in the global economy, such as trade conflicts with China, could stimulate the demand for cryptocurrencies as safe assets.

Experts advise that "in a situation where political uncertainty and economic variables are mixed, investors need to take a cautious approach." In particular, President Trump's statements and policy directions can have a significant impact on the market, so they must be watched closely, and one must approach with the recognition that the intensity of the changes is very high.

김민철 기자
Staff Reporter

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