Bitcoin Loses $80,000 as Markets Eye Payrolls and $78,000–$83,000 Liquidation Zone

U.S. nonfarm payrolls are a key gauge of labor-market momentum and a major input into Federal Reserve policy expectations. Stronger hiring can signal that the economy remains resilient and inflationary pressure may persist, reducing the case for easier monetary policy or reviving the risk of another rate increase. That prospect typically weighs on liquidity-sensitive assets such as Bitcoin by lifting yields and tightening financial conditions.

U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, well above market forecasts, prompting traders to raise the implied probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September to 58%. The renewed tightening bets triggered a pullback across risk assets, sending Bitcoin below the $80,000 threshold and toward support near $79,000. Cryptocurrency liquidations across the market reached about $400 million as leveraged positions were forced out.

US Labor Department data showed that nonfarm payrolls rose far less than the market expected in June, easing investor concerns that the Federal Reserve would maintain tight monetary policy. Such a shift in interest-rate expectations typically benefits risk assets and fueled demand for cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ether.

After the data was released in July, Bitcoin briefly climbed above $62,000 to a new high for the month, while Ether topped $1,700. The sharp rally battered short sellers, with about 130,000 traders liquidated across the market within 24 hours. Liquidations exceeded $630 million, and the largest single liquidation reached $18.2 million.

Bitcoin and other crypto assets are highly sensitive to U.S. interest rates and market liquidity, while derivatives markets commonly employ heavy leverage, making sharp price declines prone to triggering cascading forced liquidations. After the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released strong May nonfarm payrolls data, markets reassessed the timing of Federal Reserve rate cuts, putting risk assets under pressure across the board.

In the early hours of June 6, 2026, Taipei time, Bitcoin briefly fell below the $60,000 threshold, while Ether at one point dropped below $1,550. CoinGlass data as of early that morning showed that 307,470 people had been liquidated across global crypto markets over the preceding 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching $1.52 billion.

The U.S. nonfarm payrolls report is a key gauge the Federal Reserve uses to assess the labor market and inflationary pressures, and it also influences interest rates and the dollar. Stronger-than-expected job growth in April pointed to continued economic resilience. For Bitcoin, robust data could delay interest-rate cuts, making $80,000 an important test of risk appetite.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, nearly double the market forecast of 62,000. Bitcoin showed little volatility after the release, holding at around $80,200. Markets will next focus on whether Kevin Warsh changes interest-rate and balance-sheet policy after taking over as Federal Reserve chair.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ nonfarm payrolls report is a key indicator for assessing the economy and the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path. Employment posted a rare contraction in February, signaling weaker demand for workers. With geopolitical risks unresolved, investors pulled money from volatile assets including Bitcoin.

The BLS said on March 6, 2026, that US nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly fell by 92,000 in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Bitcoin dropped 3.59% over 24 hours after the release, breaking below $70,000 and briefly approaching $68,000. The move showed that expectations of interest-rate cuts had yet to offset safe-haven selling pressure.