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Surprise February US jobs losses and a higher unemployment rate revive rate\u2011cut hopes but leave BTC stuck near $70K amid broader risk\u2011off mood.<\/p>\n
\n Summary<\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n February\u2019s US jobs report<\/a> landed as a clean downside surprise: instead of a modest payroll gain, the U.S. economy outright lost 92,000 positions, a swing of more than 180,000 versus consensus and a clear deterioration from January\u2019s 126,000 increase. <\/p>\n The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4%, overshooting economist expectations and marking a subtle but important break from the \u201cresilient labor market\u201d narrative that has underpinned the Federal Reserve\u2019s higher\u2011for\u2011longer stance. On paper, that kind of softness should be a gift to duration assets and high\u2011beta plays like crypto, because it nudges the Fed closer to rate cuts in the first half of 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The initial market reaction, however, is more conflicted than the textbook macro trade. Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>), which had already slid overnight as crude spiked and equity futures rolled over, hovered near $70,000 in the minutes after the release, showing no appetite for an aggressive relief rally. Nasdaq futures are down about 1% and S&P 500<\/a> contracts off roughly 0.8%, while the 10\u2011year Treasury yield has eased to around 4.11%, signaling a modest bid for safety rather than a full\u2011blown \u201cpivot\u201d euphoria. Classic hedges are perking up instead: gold is up roughly 1%, silver 2%, and WTI crude<\/a> is surging more than 6% to about $86 per barrel, reflecting persistent geopolitical and inflation risk tied to the Iran conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n