Episode 3: From Trade Wars to Vibe Businesses: Bitcoin's Wild Ride

This week, JR and Leon tackle the intersection of global politics, crypto finance, and meme-stock madness. From Trump’s escalating trade war and its unexpected ripple effects on Bitcoin, to GameStop’s surprising Bitcoin pivot, and MetaMask’s newest move to bring crypto to real-world spending in Argentina—this episode covers it all.

Host:

Leon Hitchens:

LinkedIn, X & Website

Jesus Burgoa:

LinkedIn, X

Find Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoostChannel

Website: https://theboost.fm/social-ledger-report/

What We Covered

🇨🇳 1. Bitcoin’s Tariff-Fueled Volatility

• Bitcoin plunged from $88,400 to $82,200 early in the week amid fears of new U.S. tariffs from President Trump.
• On Wednesday, April 9, Bitcoin surged over 7% to $82,300 after the U.S. announced a 90-day pause on tariffs (excluding China).

This rally boosted crypto-related stocks:

• MicroStrategy rose by +23%
• Coinbase gained +17%

📌 Sources:

• https://x.com/Elchabera/status/1909749366891725011
• https://x.com/King1Dera/status/1908489312603193349

2. GameStop’s Bold Bitcoin Bet

• On April 6, it was revealed that GameStop raised $1.48 billion to buy Bitcoin, aiming to reposition itself amidst economic turbulence.
• GameStop's shift drew attention not just for its meme status, but as a sign of retailers hedging with BTC.
• Their stock jumped nearly 12%, fueled by hype and institutional speculation.

📌 Sources:

• https://www.reuters.com/technology/gamestop-board-approves-adding-bitcoin-treasury-reserve-asset-reports-rise-2025-03-25/
• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/25/gamestop-says-it-will-add-bitcoin-as-a-treasury-reserve-asset.html
• https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GME/

3. MetaMask’s Crypto Debit Card Launches in Argentina

• MetaMask officially launched its crypto debit card in Argentina on April 7, after debuting at SXSW in Austin.
• The card offers 1% cashback in USDC, works wherever Mastercard is accepted, and is available digitally now with physical cards rolling out soon.
• A step forward in real-world crypto utility, especially relevant for high-inflation regions like Argentina.
• JR shares his firsthand experience using the card and what it means for adoption.

📌 Sources:

• BitPinas Crypto News (April 5)
• Reddit Review: MetaMask Card
• Official MetaMask Announcement