Flipster Crypto Weekly (April 17)

April 17, 2025

The U.S. dialed up pressure on China this week with headline-grabbing tariff figures, sparking brief market jitters. But just as tensions escalated, Washington offered tariff exemptions—signaling a willingness to return to the negotiating table. For markets, it’s another layer of uncertainty in an already complex macro environment. 

Adding to that complexity, March retail sales came in stronger than expected, rising 1.4%, versus a 1.2% forecast and sharply higher than February’s 0.2% gain. The data pointed to continued consumer resilience, undermining hopes for a quick retreat in inflation and dampening expectations for near-term policy easing. 

Fed Powell echoed those concerns in a Tuesday speech,  warning that rising tariffs and persistent inflation could create a “two-pronged policy challenge” for the Fed by slowing growth and keeping prices elevated. His message is quick: Fed isn’t ready to pivot just yet.

Amid these developments, crypto markets remained largely range-bound, with major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum consolidating. The muted price action reflects a broader wait-and-see approach from traders as they assess the implications of resilient economic data and a still-restrictive monetary policy outlook.

Bitcoin (BTC)

Weekly performance: +1.81%

Year-to-date (YTD) performance: -9.92%

Bitcoin (BTC) briefly dipped below the closely watched $78,000 level last week, undercutting the early March lows, before staging a strong rebound to close above $80,000 by week’s end. The price action reflects a notable reversal, with BTC now consolidating in a narrow range between $83,000 and $86,000, supported by the 21-day moving average (MA) and capped by the 50-day moving average. 

Ethereum (ETH)

Weekly performance: -5.11%

Year-to-date (YTD) performance: -52.46%

Ethereum (ETH) reclaimed the key $1,540 level after briefly trading below this long-standing support last week. The asset is currently encountering resistance at its short-term moving averages, specifically the 10-day and 21-day MAs. For ETH to establish a sustained upward move, it will first need to break through this near-term technical resistance decisively.

Solana (SOL)

Weekly performance: +9.63%

Year-to-date (YTD) performance: -31.05%

As of this writing, Solana (SOL) has closed above its 50MA for the first time since February, marking a potential shift in momentum following a sustained downtrend. SOL has also reclaimed the $126 support level, which it had previously breached at the start of April. If SOL can maintain price action above these key technical thresholds, it may signal the early stages of a potential trend reversal to the upside.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

Hyperliquid (HYPE) demonstrated notable strength last week, posting gains of nearly 50% and closing above both its short- and intermediate-term moving averages. The asset is currently consolidating within a defined range—trading above its 50MA while remaining capped by key resistance at $16.80. In the sessions ahead, continued range-bound activity is likely. A breakout above resistance or breakdown below support would provide clearer directional cues and signal the next potential trend for HYPE. Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Flipster makes no recommendations or guarantees in respect of any digital asset, product, or service. Trading digital assets and digital asset derivatives comes with a significant risk of loss due to its high price volatility, and is not suitable for all investors. Please refer to our Terms.