Is the Fed Behind Bitcoin’s $500B Price Crash? Unpacking the Hidden Liquidity Surge

Something strange is happening in the financial world. The Federal Reserve hasn’t announced any policy changes—but behind the scenes, it’s quietly flooding the system with cash. Meanwhile, Treasury yields are spiking, Bitcoin has lost over $500 billion, and U.S.-China tensions are rising fast. Add to that a looming $6.5 trillion debt wall, and you’ve got a market walking a tightrope.

What’s really going on here?

US-China Trade War Sparks Uncertainty 

One of the biggest concerns right now is the growing trade tension between the U.S. and China. Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian strongly rejected President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, warning that China would respond. The new tariffs—some as high as 104% on certain Chinese products—are adding more strain to the already fragile relationship between the two countries.

At the same time, China is dealing with falling exports and fears of capital outflows, while the U.S. faces the challenge of refinancing $6.5 trillion in debt.

According to veteran analyst Peter Duan, Trump’s tariff strategy is aimed at lowering 10-year Treasury yields. But China is pushing back by selling U.S. Treasuries—an action that’s actually driving yields higher and making market conditions even more unstable.

Fed’s Quiet Liquidity Push: Hidden QE?

The Federal Reserve hasn’t officially changed its policy, but its actions suggest otherwise. A major clue is the massive drop in the Fed’s Reverse Repo Facility (RRP), which has fallen from more than $2.5 trillion in 2022 to just $148 billion now—a stunning 94% decrease.

Experts say this quiet money injection is acting like hidden quantitative easing (QE), boosting liquidity without any formal announcement. While this has supported markets for the moment, there’s growing concern about what happens when the RRP funds run out.

Crypto Hit Hard: Bitcoin Loses $500 Billion

Bitcoin has taken a major hit amid all this financial uncertainty, dropping over $500 billion in market value since April 2. It briefly fell below $75,000 before making a slight recovery. Altcoins like ETH, XRP, SOL, ADA, and DOGE have struggled even more due to tight liquidity conditions.

Historically, Bitcoin tends to rise when liquidity is strong. Many analysts believe that if the Fed officially brings back QE in 2025, Bitcoin could see a major rebound—just like in 2020, when Fed stimulus helped push it to record highs.

Former BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes says that if history repeats itself, Bitcoin could climb as high as $250,000. He believes that another round of Fed-driven liquidity could be the spark that drives the next big bull run.