Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market faced renewed selling pressure after the latest US jobless claims data pointed to ongoing labor market strength, reducing the likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 200,000 for the week ended May 2, the Labor Department reported Thursday, falling short of the 205,000 forecast by economists.
The modest increase partially reversed a sharp decline the previous week and kept claims below 230,000 for the year, signaling that companies remain reluctant to cut staff despite high-profile technology layoffs. Continuing claims fell by 10,000 to 1.766 million, while job openings per unemployed person improved to 0.95 in March from 0.91 in February, reinforcing the narrative of a resilient labor market.
This backdrop complicates the Fed’s inflation fight. With consumer prices still elevated, stronger-than-expected employment data supports the central bank’s higher-for-longer stance on interest rates. As a result, risk assets like Bitcoin came under pressure, as traders scaled back bets on a summer rate cut. Bitcoin price dipped in response, reflecting broader caution ahead of Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report, which is expected to show a slowdown in hiring to 62,000 jobs in April from 178,000 in March.
Additional headwinds cited by analysts include potential shipping disruptions from the US-Israel-Iran tensions that could spike commodity prices, adding to inflationary risks. Nonetheless, the immediate impact on Bitcoin prices was driven by the labor data’s implications for monetary policy, highlighting the cryptocurrency’s sensitivity to macro economics.