Why Bitcoin Stayed Steady: BTC’s Muted Response to Mixed US December Jobs Data

In the fast-moving world of crypto, big economic news from the US often shakes markets. But this time, surprised many traders. Bitcoin held its ground even as the latest jobs report painted a mixed picture. Let’s break it down step by step.

What Did the December Jobs Report Say?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released key data on Friday. Non-farm payrolls added 216,000 jobs in December. This beat forecasts of 170,000. Sounds good, right? But there’s more.

• Unemployment rate jumped to 4.1% from 4.0%.
• Average hourly earnings rose just 0.4%, below the expected 0.5%.
• Revisions cut prior months’ gains by 176,000 jobs.

This mix of strong hiring but rising jobless claims and weak wage growth left investors unsure. Normally, such data hints at Federal Reserve rate cut chances. Lower rates boost risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Price: No Big Moves

BTC traded around $94,000 to $96,000 during the release. It dipped slightly to $93,500 but quickly recovered. By end of day, Bitcoin was up 0.5%.

Why so calm? Bitcoin has been in a tight range for weeks. Traders watched ETF inflows closely. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $500 million in net buys last week. This steady demand offsets macro noise.

Reasons Behind BTC’s Little Reaction

Several factors explain why .

1. Fed Rate Cut Odds Unchanged

Markets priced in three rate cuts for 2025 before the report. Post-data, odds stayed the same. CME FedWatch tool shows 75% chance of March cut. No surprise, no sell-off.

2. Bitcoin ETF Momentum

BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC led inflows. Total ETF assets hit $100 billion. This institutional buying acts as a floor for BTC price.

3. Post-Halving Strength

April 2024 halving cut miner rewards. History shows BTC rallies months later. We’re in that phase now. Traders focus on supply shock over jobs data.

4. Technical Levels Hold Firm

BTC sits above 50-day moving average at $92,000. RSI at 55 shows neutral momentum. No overbought signals for pullback.

Broader Crypto Market Reaction

Altcoins mirrored BTC. Ethereum up 1%, Solana 2%. Total market cap crossed $3.2 trillion. Fear & Greed Index at 65 (greed), up from 60.

Memecoins like DOGE gained 3% on hype. But DeFi tokens lagged, down 1% on TVL concerns.

What Experts Say

Analysts weigh in:

“Mixed jobs data is noise. Bitcoin’s cycle is driven by ETFs and halving.” – Crypto trader @CryptoWizard

“BTC ignores macros until Fed pivots. $100K by Q1 end.” – Bloomberg strategist

Some warn of risks. If unemployment keeps rising, recession fears could hit risk assets.

Looking Ahead: BTC Price Predictions

1. Short-term: Range $90K-$100K. Breakout on ETF news.
2. Medium-term: $110K if Fed cuts in March.
3. Long-term: $150K+ post-Trump inauguration, pro-crypto policies.

Key events: January CPI data, FOMC meeting. Watch BTC dominance at 57% – rising means altcoin pain.

Trading Tips for BTC Investors

• Dollar-cost average into dips.
• Set stops below $90K support.
• Track ETF flows daily via Farside Investors.
• Diversify with ETH for balance.

Final Thoughts

highlights crypto’s maturity. BTC no longer swings wildly on every US report. Institutional money and halving dynamics rule now.

Stay tuned for more updates. What’s your take on BTC’s next move? Share in comments.

Images and charts for illustration. Always DYOR before investing.