Bitcoin’s 24/7 trading amplifies weekend price volatility

Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO:BTC) 24/7 trading model, once hailed as a core advantage of the cryptocurrency market, has shown increased vulnerability during periods of global uncertainty.

Following the U.S. trade tariff announcement on April 2, Bitcoin saw a steep weekend decline, falling from $82,000 to below $75,000 by Sunday.

The round-the-clock nature of Bitcoin trading allows investors to react to news in real time, even outside traditional market hours.

However, this accessibility can also heighten volatility, especially when other financial markets are closed.

Lucas Outumuro, head of research at IntoTheBlock, said Bitcoin often serves as the “first line of de-risking” during off-hours.

“There’s very little people can sell on a Sunday because most markets are closed,” he noted, suggesting panic selling was a major factor in the weekend dip.

Earlier in the week, Bitcoin initially resisted broader market pressure, even as the S&P 500 shed $3.5 trillion in value.

But as concerns about a deepening trade war intensified, crypto markets followed suit.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back pointed to excessive leverage as another driver of weekend volatility.

“Most people who are into Bitcoin are all in... and some are leveraged or overleveraged,” he said during Paris Blockchain Week 2025.

Low weekend liquidity, combined with high leverage, often amplifies downward price movements.

Weekend volatility in Bitcoin markets is not a new phenomenon but has become more pronounced as retail and institutional dynamics evolve.

Even while trading volumes often decline on Saturdays and Sundays, institutional participation has begun to reduce strong swings, though not enough to stop them during world events.

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin (BTC) price was $76,166.46.