Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced a decline on Friday, following the downward trend of the stock market. This decline is fueled by the increasing expectations of interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. The U.S. jobs report, set to be released on Friday, is likely to further shape this narrative.
Within the past 24 hours, the price of Bitcoin has dropped by 4%, falling below the $30,100 mark. As a result, the largest digital asset is at risk of sliding below the psychologically significant level of $30,000. Last month, Bitcoin surpassed this key mark after applications for spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds by BlackRock (ticker: BLK) and other entities. These applications sparked hope for renewed interest in cryptocurrency among retail and institutional investors. While these positive developments injected bullish sentiment into the crypto market, other macroeconomic forces are now coming into play.
Yuya Hasegawa, an analyst at crypto exchange Bitbank, stated that the impact of news regarding spot Bitcoin ETF filings on its price seems to be diminishing. Instead, the rise in Treasury yields due to solid U.S. economic data is pressuring the price of Bitcoin. Hasegawa further noted that even if the jobs report indicates a cooling in the U.S. labor market, Bitcoin will still face challenges in breaking out of its current range.
Similar to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500, Bitcoin’s movement on Friday will be influenced by the U.S. jobs report. This report is a crucial indicator of how well the economy is performing. As the Federal Reserve combats high inflation levels, they will closely monitor the jobs data.
Resilient Jobs Data Reignites Fears of Rate Hike and Impacts Cryptocurrency Market
Resilient jobs data this week, particularly the ADP employment report, has sparked concerns regarding the potential continuation of rate hikes by the central bank. Despite a pause in June, markets are now preparing for a potential hike this month, followed by another in September. As a result, both stocks and Bitcoin have experienced a downward spiral.
Bitcoin’s fate seems to be intertwined with significant macroeconomic events. The recent U.S. jobs report, along with exceptionally robust private payrolls data and hawkish Fed minutes, has fueled speculation of another rate hike this month, with the possibility of more to come. Sam Yilmaz, co-founder of Bloccelerate, a crypto-focused venture capital group, expressed his thoughts on the matter.
During last year, rising rates were a significant obstacle for cryptocurrencies. However, optimism in 2023 signaled that the worst was over, leading Bitcoin to achieve its best first half performance since 2019. As we approach the Fed’s next rate decision in late July, the upcoming jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time will be one of the last crucial economic data releases.
Apart from Bitcoin, Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, experienced a 5% decline, settling at $1,850. Other smaller tokens such as Cardano and Polygon also faced weakness, dropping 4% and 5% respectively. The memecoins market witnessed a similar trend as Dogecoin declined by 5%, while Shiba Inu saw a 6% decrease.
In conclusion, resilient jobs data has instilled fears of an approaching rate hike and its impact on the cryptocurrency market. Investors and enthusiasts alike eagerly await the forthcoming jobs report as it could potentially signal the future direction of rates by the central bank.