Bitcoin hovered around $67,000 after the release of a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report, showing little immediate reaction as broader macro forces continue to dominate market sentiment.
The U.S. labor market staged a sharp rebound in March following February’s losses. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the economy added 178,000 jobs, well above expectations for a 60,000 increase. The gain follows a revised decline of 133,000 jobs in February, which was deeper than initially reported.
The unemployment rate dipped to 4.3% from 4.4%, also coming in slightly better than forecasts.
Despite the upbeat data, bitcoin remained steady in the minutes following the release, continuing to trade near the $67,000 mark.
In traditional markets, U.S. equity futures were modestly lower, with Nasdaq 100 futures down about 0.2%. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rose to 4.36%, up four basis points on the day.
Lately, interest rate expectations have been shaped more by geopolitical developments and energy prices than by domestic economic data. A recent surge in oil prices had prompted speculation that the Federal Reserve might need to tighten policy sooner than expected.
However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated earlier this week that the central bank is unlikely to respond aggressively to short-term oil-driven inflation. While higher crude prices can push inflation higher in the near term, they can also act as a drag on economic growth, suggesting a more measured policy response.
Even so, the strength of the latest jobs report points to continued economic resilience, which could bring the possibility of rate hikes in 2026 back into focus if momentum persists.
