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Bitcoin surged more than 8% to cross $81,700 on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on planned tariff hikes for dozens of countries, offering relief to investors spooked by escalating trade tensions.The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value touched an intraday high of $83,541, buoyed by the unexpected rollback of tariffs less than 24 hours after they were introduced. However, the White House clarified that a 10% blanket duty on nearly all imports would remain in effect.At the same time, tariffs on Chinese imports were raised to 125%, following Beijing’s move to impose an 84% levy on U.S. goods.As of 9:50 AM IST, Bitcoin was trading at $81,740, up 8.1% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum also rallied 12.6% to $1,613, while the global cryptocurrency market capitalisation rose 8.3% to $2.59 trillion."The crypto market saw a strong rebound after Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, easing investor sentiment," said Alankar Saxena, Co-founder and CTO of Mudrex.Saxena noted that regulatory developments added to the positive momentum. “The U.S. Senate confirming Paul Atkins as the new SEC Chair and the approval of options on spot Ethereum ETFs have broadened Ether’s investment appeal, especially among institutions. If this momentum continues, BTC’s rally to $100,000 is back on the table, with the next major resistance at $88,600 and support at $80,000,” he added.Avinash Shekhar, Co-founder and CEO of Pi42, said, "Trump's tariff break has given investors confidence, and the SEC's confirmation of Paul Atkins and approval for Ethereum ETF options trading have added critical credibility to the crypto ecosystem. With regulatory clarity improving and macroeconomic conditions stabilizing, we might be entering a new era of mainstream adoption and long-term appreciation in digital assets."Despite the strong performance, some experts remained cautious. “While spot prices have rallied sharply, derivative indicators suggest that traders are still hesitant. Bitcoin is likely to consolidate around the current zone before attempting a move towards the next key level at $88,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.Market sentiment has improved significantly, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index climbing from ‘Extreme Fear’ (18) to ‘Fear’ (39)Also Read: Regulation or revolution? What Trump's bitcoin move means for Indian policyAmong major altcoins, XRP rose 12.7%, Solana gained 11%, BNB advanced 5.6%, Cardano rallied 11%, while Tron, Dogecoin, Chainlink, Avalanche, Stellar, Sui, Hedera, and Shiba Inu rose between 5% and 14%.Bitcoin’s market cap rose to $1.621 trillion, increasing its dominance in the overall crypto market to 62.58%. Daily trading volume jumped 49% to $78.76 billion. Stablecoins accounted for 94.72% of the total crypto market volume, reaching Rs 158.63 billion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.Also Read: What lies ahead for Altcoins: Looking at the future of diversified portfolios(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on tariffs to allow trade negotiations, a move that may be a big relief to India and might require to pull off a new trade strategy altogether. Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has suggested that New Delhi should avoid signing a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Washington, and instead consider a limited "Zero-to-Zero" tariff deal on 90 per cent of industrial goods. This is because a FTA may require India to make harmful trade-offs, GTRI suggested vouching for the other model, which is already offered by Europe to the US.Also Read: Hopes of Indian exporters rise after Trump freezes tariff timebomb for 90 daysOn April 2, Trump had slapped 26 per cent tariffs on India, exempting only the pharma, semiconductor and gold sectors. India is also working on a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the States, following a visit by PM Narendra Modi. "Avoid a comprehensive FTA with the US as it would force India to make damaging concessions. It's a deal that would cost India more than it gains. Restrict to Zero for zero deal on 90 per cent industrial Goods. Europe has offered similar deal to the US," it said.Here's why GTRI suggests India should not for a full FTA with the USA full FTA with the US could harm India's agricultural sector, weakening the MSP system and threatening farmer incomes. Allowing genetically modified food imports and reducing agricultural tariffs could jeopardize food security and biodiversity. Changes to patent laws could extend drug monopolies, making life-saving medicines less affordable. US e-commerce giants selling directly to Indian consumers could harm small retailers and local businesses. Cutting tariffs on automobiles could damage India's auto industry and lead to job losses, as seen in Australia's car industry collapse. Past unilateral trade concessions to the US have not been reciprocated, with little benefit for India. Zero-to-zero tariff deals with select countries would protect sensitive sectors while enabling mutual trade benefits. India should prioritize trade agreements with the EU, UK, Canada, and Asian partners like Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN. Partnerships with China and Russia for joint product value chains could boost local manufacturing and exports.Why India should opt Zero-to-Zero Tariff dealEnsure balanced trade without compromising key sectorsFocus on FTAs with EU, UK, Canada for more equitable outcomesStrengthen ties with Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN countriesExplore regional partnerships with China and RussiaDevelop joint value chains in electronics, chemicals, and machinerySupport local manufacturing and increase export potential