Traders remain cautious ahead of US Jobless data
Crypto prices have remained suppressed as traders have taken aback today as they wait for the release of U.S. jobless data later today. The data is expected to come slightly hotter at around 223,000–225,000 new claims. As such, hotter-than-expected data could tend to put more pressure on the Fed to cut rates.
However, comments from several Fed officials and the Fed chair himself have lately set a more hawkish tone for rate cuts, at least for early 2026. Cryptocurrencies tend to rally on expectations of rate cuts and pull back when they are delayed or deemed less likely to occur in the near future.
The market had turned bearish just days before after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to 0.75%, the highest in the past 30 years, a divergence from the Fed, which cut rates in December to a range of 3.50%-3.75%.
Cryptocurrencies have historically been volatile when the BoJ ramped up interest rates, as it can strengthen the yen and potentially unwind “carry trades” that involve borrowing in Japan to invest in higher-yielding, riskier assets elsewhere.
