American equities took a sharp dive Tuesday, marking the worst trading day since early October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 870 points as market participants rushed to the exits. What triggered this sell-off? Trade tensions—specifically, the administration's threats to impose tariffs on European partners over disagreements regarding territorial matters escalated investor anxiety about a potential trade war. When traditional markets panic like this, crypto traders typically buckle up too. The spillover effects across asset classes usually follow, making this the kind of macro event worth watching if you're positioned in any market.