Bill Ackman isn’t one to sit back and wait while the market gets rocked by political maneuvers—and he’s making his predictions known. In a recent X post on April 5, 2025, the crypto-friendly billionaire investor and founder of Pershing Square Capital Management remarked that he wouldn’t be surprised to wake up on Monday to an announcement from President Donald Trump postponing the implementation of his controversial tariffs. Ackman noted, “One would have to imagine that President Trump’s phone has been ringing off the hook. The practical reality is that there is insufficient time for him to make deals before the tariffs are scheduled to take effect.”
One would have to imagine that President @realDonaldTrump’s phone has been ringing off the hook. The practical reality is that there is insufficient time for him to make deals before the tariffs are scheduled to take effect.
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) April 5, 2025
I would therefore not be surprised to wake up Monday…
Tariff Timetable and Trump’s Trade Tussle
Let’s rewind a little: on April 2, Trump signed an executive order mandating a 10% baseline tariff on imports from all countries, with harsher reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners—like a 34% levy on Chinese goods, 20% on those from the European Union, and 24% on Japanese imports—set to kick in on April 9. The tariffs have already sent shockwaves throughout the markets. Ackman believes that these sweeping measures, intended to pressure trading partners and protect U.S. jobs, might actually backfire. With insufficient time to hammer out lucrative deals, there’s a growing possibility that Trump could hit pause to secure better terms before the tariffs turn into an economic wrench.
GameStop’s Bold Move - Raising $1.5 Billion to Fuel Bitcoin Ambitions
In a move that’s both audacious and emblematic of the current crypto fever, GameStop Corporation finished a convertible debt offering that raised $1.5 billion—well above the initial target of 1.3 billion. This capital injection is earmarked for more than just keeping the lights on; GameStop has greenlit an investment in Bitcoin and US-dollar-pegged stablecoins. The deal saw purchasers opting for an extra $200 million in the principal amount of notes, pushing the total offering to an impressive $1.5 billion. Each convertible note has a conversion rate of 33 shares of common stock per $1,000, and unless converted earlier, it is scheduled to mature on April 1, 2030.
Board approval was swiftly granted, and the company confirmed that the net proceeds would be used “for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Bitcoin in a manner consistent with the Company’s Investment Policy.” GameStop’s cash reserves have swelled dramatically—from $921.7 million a year ago to $4.77 billion as of February 1—underscoring the company’s plunge into the crypto frontier. Though GameStop’s share price was relatively calm at the close of the convertible debt offering day around $22.61, there was a notable fluctuation: shortly after a bullish announcement on March 26, the stock surged nearly 12% to $28.36, only to drop almost 24% the next day to $21.68, reflecting the nervous tension among shareholders.
Related news: GameStop Takes a Crypto Dive with a 25% Tumble and Senior Notes Priced at $29.85
Impact on Cryptos and Stocks
While investors are busy watching tariffs and convertible notes, the broader markets have taken a hit. On the day of the tariff announcement, the S&P 500 fell sharply—prices plummeting enough to wipe out huge chunks of market cap—while Trump’s bold move sent ripples of uncertainty across both traditional and crypto markets. Bitcoin, currently hovering around $82,357, is now facing “very high risk” conditions, according to analysis by Charles Edwards, founder of the digital asset fund Capriole Investments. Edwards warned that if U.S. trade tariffs continue to weigh down the economy, Bitcoin could drop to as low as $71,000. This level is particularly alarming as it could trigger further market sell-offs if key support—around $80,000—is breached.
Analysts point out that the uncertainty from these trade measures is already visible in market indicators. The Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey has dipped below 15 for the first time in 2024—levels seen only in high-risk zones during 2000, 2008, and 2022. With trade tensions escalating, market sentiment is more fragile, and even a small delay or adjustment to the tariffs could make a big difference.
Nic Puckrin, crypto analyst and founder of The Coin Bureau, remains upbeat—even while admitting that these tariffs might drop Bitcoin’s price to $73,000 or send it soaring as high as $88,000. He quipped, “Given the low trading volume over the last few weeks and the crypto Fear & Greed Index still stuck in fear mode, we're likely at or near a market low. The good news? That means BTC should rally eventually—the only puzzle is when.”
On April 3, popular crypto analyst Michaël Van De Poppe echoed that bullish sentiment in an X post. He observed that BTC tried to break out of its narrow trading range after the tariffs hit, only to retreat back, reaffirming that $87,000 stands firm as a key resistance level. Van De Poppe stressed that as long as BTC holds above the crucial $80,000 support, the uptrend remains intact and another rally is very much within reach.
Just like that, #Bitcoin is back in the range.
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) April 3, 2025
A breakout that was tried during an event, it's usually not a real breakout.
Again, it shows that $87K is the level to break.
As long as Bitcoin can stay above $80K, we'll be fine. There's a strong likelihood we'll rally. pic.twitter.com/GIRBLq2SmV
Why the Pause Might Be a Blessing in Disguise
Ackman’s insight suggests that postponing the tariffs might allow Trump to secure better deals and give companies the breathing room they need to prepare for dramatic economic changes. “It will take a decade for the US to catch up with cutting-edge chip manufacturing,” commented industry insiders like Kristian Csepcsar of BTC mining tech provider Braiins, pointing to how increased uncertainty could force a temporary retreat and eventual rebound in various sectors.
He added that mining equipment tariffs were already increasing under the Biden administration in 2024, and cited comments from Summer Meng, general manager at Chinese crypto mining supplier Bitmars.
Meanwhile, major crypto voices have noted that even in times of market turbulence, regulatory clarity helps restore confidence. With recent legal relief—several states dropping lawsuits against Coinbase over staking services—the spotlight is on policymakers to help buckle down the chaos and create a more predictable environment for innovation and investment.
The Road Ahead Amid Uncertainty
As the pressure mounts, both legacy companies and crypto innovators are navigating carefully. For now, all eyes remain on April 7, which Ackman believes will be “one of the more interesting days” in U.S. economic history. Will Trump indeed postpone the tariffs, giving companies and investors a window of opportunity to close potential deals? Or will the current measures force a sharp decline in market confidence, pushing Bitcoin into a lower price zone?
In a separate X post, crypto analyst Ash Crypto delved into Bitcoin’s historical performance during previous US-China trade wars. Examining May 2019, Ash pointed out that after Trump imposed tariffs on China and China retaliated, stocks tumbled dramatically while Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed. “Bitcoin surged from $3,500 in early 2019 to nearly $13,800 by June 2019. The price surge paralleled escalating trade tensions, positioning BTC as a hedge against economic uncertainty. Both gold and Bitcoin performed remarkably well, reflecting a shift as investors sought safe-haven assets,” Ash explained.
ARE TARRIFS GOOD FOR CRYPTO ?
— Ash Crypto (@Ashcryptoreal) April 1, 2025
Last time when US imposed tariff on
China in May 2019. Nasdaq dropped
12% during the period but at same
time Bitcoin jumped 70%.
Will Bitcoin separate from the 🇺🇸U.S.
market in April/May like Gold did and
give us the new ATH pump to $150k ?… pic.twitter.com/dU6SRYZSTL
Though only time will tell, these interconnected moves—from high-stakes convertible debt raisings by GameStop to the possible delay of controversial tariffs—reveal how traditional finance and crypto are increasingly tangled in a complex dance of risk, opportunity, and regulatory shifts.
HODL Team
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