Arthur Hayes, former CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, issued a warning on 6 April 2025 about an impending "Black Monday" that could affect not only traditional markets but also Bitcoin and other digital assets. The expert highlighted that all eyes are on 6 p.m. GMT—when S&P 500 futures open—whilst Bitcoin's weekend inactivity has provided little indication of future market movements. Hayes described the current situation as a "fog of war" surrounding the markets, but emphasised that traders will soon face reality.
Donald Trump's tariff announcement on 2 April 2025 has already caused significant market losses—the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index fell nearly 6% on 4 April, whilst stock markets suffered a total value loss of $8.2 trillion, exceeding losses during the worst week of the 2008 financial crisis. Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money" segment, suggested that the October 1987 crash scenario remains possible, though market circuit breakers could slow the process. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's price dropped below $80,000 on 6 April, representing a 3% decrease since the beginning of the week.
The previous "Black Monday" occurred on 16 March 2020 amid pandemic escalation and recession fears, marking one of the toughest days in market history. Some analysts claim the current situation is worse than the infamous 1987 crash by sheer numbers. Though Bitcoin has shown more resilience to the tariff shock than equity markets, analyst Daan Crypto Trades noted that Bitcoin's volatility is decreasing whilst the VIX (Volatility Index) for stocks closed at its highest level since the 2020 Covid crash, creating an unprecedented situation.
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Gamza Khanzadaev
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Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, warns that Bitcoin and crypto markets could face a 'Black Monday' scenario as traders brace for potential volatility.
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Bitcoin's price fell below $80,000 amid stock market volatility reminiscent of the 1987 crash, with analysts predicting potential further declines or a significant rebound.
