BitMEX co-founder and Maelstrom’s chief investment officer, Arthur Hayes, has tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) that the United States tariff is not a setback for the crypto market—it could be exactly what Bitcoin needs.
Hayes Bullish About U.S. Tariff
Hayes dismissed the short-term fears surrounding Trump’s tariff announcements. “Some of y’all are running scurred, but I LOVE TARIFFS,” he tweeted. According to Hayes, while tariffs may trigger a temporary market panic, they expose global economic imbalances. He contends that central banks will correct these imbalances via money-printing, which has historically boosted asset prices.
The CIO argued that the dollar weakens as the U.S. imposes tariffs while foreign investors begin selling U.S. tech stocks and retrieving capital. He believes the trend will create a liquidity-rich environment that favors non-sovereign assets like Bitcoin and gold in the interim. The fiat debasement from tariff-induced pressures will expose Bitcoin’s hedge against inflation.
Beyond U.S. borders, Hayes calls for policy adjustments from key global players. He urged China to allow more domestic credit to flow offshore and challenged the Bank of Japan to ramp up its quantitative easing efforts to bolster yen liquidity. Hayes predicts such policy responses could further undermine fiat currencies and foster Bitcoin’s rally.
Hayes wrapped up his message with a call to crypto investors: “Be patient, be nimble, be liquid.” This hinted at the need for investors to maintain flexibility and liquidity during volatility while positioning themselves to benefit from the future favorable market conditions that monetary easing could provide for Bitcoin.
Hayes’ Bitcoin Predictions
Hayes has a reputation for making bold predictions about Bitcoin. In the past, when Bitcoin’s price got high, he warned that it could face a significant drop, which matched the market corrections later seen. His prediction that Trump’s inauguration would trigger a crypto sell-off materialized as BTC spiraled down from $109,000 to the $76,000 zone.
However, his prediction of Bitcoin hitting $250,000 in 2025 has not come true yet. While his ideas about monetary policies and economic shifts appear solid, the price levels he predicts have lacked precision. Meanwhile, his recent thesis comes after the U.S. president pardoned him and other BitMex executives over violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.
