As markets tumble following Trump’s surprise global tariff rollout, Binance CEO Richard Teng is offering a different perspective: this kind of economic chaos might actually push more people toward Bitcoin and crypto.

“This Could Be the Catalyst,” Says Teng

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on April 8, Teng pointed out that while the immediate reaction may be shaky, the long-term effects could favor digital assets.

“While this environment may prompt a short-term risk-off reaction,” he wrote, “it could also accelerate interest in crypto as a non-sovereign store of value.”

His message? People are starting to look beyond fiat—especially when governments keep introducing economic shockwaves.

Crypto Takes a Hit—But Could Rebound Fast

Markets have been rattled. Trump’s latest move—a blanket 10% tariff on imports from nearly every country—sent stocks into freefall. And crypto wasn’t spared: Bitcoin dropped over $10K this weekend before finding footing.

BTC is currently hovering around $77,000, down 2% on the day.

Still, many in the space think this is just a shakeout, not a collapse.

Trump Calls It “Economic Medicine”

On Monday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the tariffs are a fix, not a risk.

“They took our businesses, our money, our jobs,” he said. “This is economic medicine—we need it.”

But the public seems skeptical. A Pew Research Center poll shows that most Americans aren’t buying it, with rising fears of inflation and more financial pain.

Crypto = Escape Route?

Teng isn’t alone in seeing the upside. A growing chorus in Web3 believes that every centralized policy shock—like this one—only strengthens the case for crypto.

As Teng put it, Bitcoin and other digital assets could thrive as non-sovereign safe havens when fiat systems start looking shaky.

Bottom line: If the traditional economy stays volatile, crypto might just become the go-to Plan B.