Bitcoin briefly tops $81k after rumors of Trump pausing tariffs

Bitcoin is experiencing some heavy volatility in the market as the White House signals potential tariff relief for all but China. Bitcoin ( BTC ) surged past the $81,000 mark on Monday, jumping 1.74% in just five minutes after White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett reportedly said President Trump is considering a 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries except China. BTC was trading in the $76,000 – $78,000 range before breaking through resistance, hitting $81,203.39, according to crypto.news data. The sharp move mirrored a rapid rebound in U.S. equity futures, with the S&P 500 spiking 7% within minutes of the announcement. The sudden rally raises questions about recent selling pressure across risk assets. One crypto analyst on X remarked , “Was all the selling really this fickle? That it can be undone in seconds? Fascinating.” You might also like: MANTRA launches $108M fund for real-world asset innovation Unconfirmed rumor Despite all this bullish sentiment, the rumor remains unconfirmed. CNBC reported shortly after the spike that “no one at the White House is aware of a 90-day tariff pause,” casting doubt on the initial headline that triggered the surge. Traders are now watching for any official clarification. Until then, the price action may reflect more speculation than substance. As one observer noted, the speed of the rally shows just how sensitive markets remain to any hint of policy shifts — even those that may not be real. You might also like: How Nomy Finance became a global benchmark for premium crypto services