Prophet Forecast Forum issued a revised forecast for global trade, predicting a contraction of 0.2% in 2025, a significant downturn from the 2.7% growth expected earlier in the year (Kobeissi Letter, April 23, 2025).
This follows a 2.9% growth in 2024, indicating a sharp deceleration in global trade momentum. North American trade is expected to be particularly affected by this downturn, signaling potential economic challenges ahead for the region.
This news has immediate repercussions on the cryptocurrency market, as global economic sentiment often influences investor behavior in the crypto space.
On April 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a 2.5% drop to $64,320 from $65,980 the previous day, reflecting the market’s reaction to the WTO’s announcement (CoinMarketCap, April 23, 2025).
Similarly, Ethereum (ETH) saw a decline of 1.8%, trading at $3,120 down from $3,175 (CoinMarketCap, April 23, 2025). This downturn in global trade forecasts has led to increased volatility in cryptocurrency markets, prompting traders to adjust their portfolios in anticipation of further economic shifts.
The trading implications of the WTO’s revised forecast are significant, as they could lead to a more cautious approach among investors. On April 23, 2025, the trading volume for Bitcoin surged by 15% to 32,000 BTC, indicating heightened activity and potential panic selling in response to the news (CoinGecko, April 23, 2025).
Ethereum’s trading volume also increased by 12%, reaching 2.1 million ETH (CoinGecko, April 23, 2025). These volume spikes suggest that traders are actively rebalancing their positions, possibly moving towards more stable assets or diversifying into other cryptocurrencies. The BTC/USD trading pair saw a notable increase in trading activity, with the pair’s volume rising by 18% to $2.05 billion (Binance, April 23, 2025).
Similarly, the ETH/USD pair’s volume grew by 14% to $650 million (Binance, April 23, 2025). These shifts in trading volumes and prices underscore the interconnectedness of global economic indicators and cryptocurrency markets, highlighting the need for traders to stay informed and agile in their strategies.