Just in: U.S. initial jobless claims came in at 224K, beating the forecast of 236K and matching expectations dead-on. This is actually quite significant—when employment data trends cooler than feared, it typically keeps the Fed's rate-cut cycle on pause or slower than anticipated.

For crypto markets, this matters more than most realize. Stronger-than-expected labor data = sticky inflation narrative = potentially longer periods of higher rates. That translates to slower money printing, tighter liquidity, and generally tougher conditions for risk assets like Bitcoin and altcoins. But on the flip side, a softer labor market could open the door for rate cuts sooner, which historically has been a tailwind for crypto. This single data point doesn't make the trend, but it's the kind of economic signal savvy traders watch closely when positioning for macro shifts.