The price of Bitcoin (BTC) held steady in the $90,000 to $91,000 range on January 9, 2026, as the cryptocurrency market digested a mixed batch of U.S. economic data and broader macro uncertainty. BTC was trading around $90,200 to $91,000, showing resilience but remaining stuck in a consolidation phase without a clear directional trend.
The primary market focus was the latest U.S. jobs report. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December, slightly better than the expected 4.5%. However, nonfarm payrolls increased by only 50,000 jobs, missing forecasts and marking a sharp slowdown. Payroll numbers for October and November were revised lower by a combined 76,000 jobs. For the full year, average monthly job growth dropped to 49,000, compared with 168,000 in 2024, reinforcing views of a cooling U.S. economy.
This data offered a mixed signal for risk assets like Bitcoin. The slightly lower unemployment rate eased immediate fears of aggressive policy tightening from the Federal Reserve, providing some breathing room. However, the weak payroll figures highlighted economic softening, which kept broader market momentum in check.
Adding to the macro hesitation was legal uncertainty from Washington. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a ruling on challenges tied to tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump, prolonging ambiguity around U.S. trade policy and limiting follow-through momentum for Bitcoin above the $92,000 resistance area.
On-chain and derivatives data revealed underlying market tension. Roughly $56 million in Bitcoin positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with short positions slightly outweighing longs, indicating a market still crowded with leverage. Institutional flows also added pressure, as Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded net outflows on January 8, interrupting a previous inflow streak and signaling a pause in institutional demand at current price levels.
Technically, Bitcoin is in a balance phase. The price is hovering above a major weekly order block and key demand zone between $76,000 and $82,000, according to analysts at Bitcoinsensus. On the upside, it faces strong resistance between $92,800 and $101,200, an area where it was rejected several times in November and December. On the downside, support has held in the $86,500 to $88,200 range.
Momentum indicators reflect this indecision. The 4-hour MACD has turned negative, pointing to fading short-term bullish momentum, but its histogram is contracting, suggesting selling pressure may be easing. The RSI is hovering in a neutral zone, indicating the market is neither overbought nor oversold and has room to move in either direction.
The broader crypto market showed little reaction to the macro data. Total market capitalization stood near $3.08 trillion. Ethereum (ETH) traded near $3,076, while XRP extended its recent relative strength, trading close to $2.09.
