Bitcoin Holds $68K Amid US Tariff Turmoil, Pi Network Token Slumps

Bitcoin’s price action over the weekend presented a notable case of market resilience. Despite a series of controversial developments on the US tariff front, the leading cryptocurrency held steady around the $68,000 mark. This stability followed a week of moderate volatility, where BTC bounced from a low of $65,200 last weekend to nearly $71,000, only to be pushed back down to $65,600 by Thursday. The subsequent rebound to a local peak of $68,800 on Friday and Saturday occurred against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty that has historically triggered significant price declines for BTC.

The source of this uncertainty was a major ruling from the US Supreme Court on Friday, which declared many of the tariffs imposed during the Trump administration illegal. The reaction from the former President was swift and severe, labeling the decision a “disgrace” and immediately announcing a new global tariff of 10% on top of existing duties. By Saturday, this figure was raised to the maximum allowed 15%. Typically, such geopolitical escalations and policy shifts inject volatility into cryptocurrency markets, as seen weeks prior during the EU tariff saga over Greenland. Yet, Bitcoin’s market capitalization held firm at $1.360 trillion, with its dominance over alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) at 56.6%.

Market observers are now watching for potential volatility as Sunday evening approaches and futures markets reopen. For now, however, Bitcoin’s ability to trade calmly at $68,000, just below its weekend high, suggests a degree of decoupling from immediate tariff headlines, or a market that has already priced in such geopolitical friction.

While Bitcoin exhibited stability, the broader altcoin market painted a mixed but largely negative picture. The standout underperformer was Pi Network’s native token, PI. Marking the first anniversary of its Open Network launch did nothing to bolster its price; instead, PI plunged 6% in the past 24 hours, struggling to maintain a price above $0.165. This continued a trend of poor performance for the asset, placing it among the day’s worst performers.

PI was not alone in the red. Other notable losers included Ethereum Classic (ETC), Arbitrum (ARB), and Ethena (ENA), each shedding approximately 7-8% of their value. In stark contrast, the token PIPPIN surged over 17% to nearly $0.60, highlighting the divergent paths within the altcoin ecosystem. The majority of larger-capitalization altcoins also registered losses, albeit more modestly. Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and HYPE each declined around 3%, while XRP, Chainlink (LINK), and CC saw decreases of about 1%.

A handful of major assets managed to eke out minor gains. Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Tron (TRX), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) all posted insignificant increases, reflecting a market in a holding pattern rather than a broad-based sell-off. Despite the scattered declines, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization remained robust, staying above the $2.4 trillion threshold.

The weekend’s trading activity underscores a market in a state of selective stress rather than systemic panic. Bitcoin’s steadfast position suggests that for the core of the crypto market, macro triggers like tariff announcements may be losing some of their immediate shock value, or that current price levels represent a strong consensus floor. The asset’s quick recovery from Thursday’s dip to $65,600 further indicates underlying buyer support.

Conversely, the sharp declines in tokens like PI, ETC, and ARB point to investor selectivity and a potential rotation away from perceived riskier or underperforming assets. The significant drop in PI on its network’s anniversary is particularly telling, signaling a lack of confidence or positive catalyst-driven buying. The overall market structure, with total capitalization holding above $2.4 trillion, indicates that capital is not fleeing the crypto space en masse but may be consolidating within it.

As the new week begins, all eyes will be on the reaction in futures markets and whether Bitcoin can maintain its composure above $68,000. The contrasting performances—Bitcoin’s calm versus Pi Network’s slump—highlight the evolving maturity of the cryptocurrency landscape, where headline geopolitical risks are weighed against individual project fundamentals and broader market liquidity.