Crypto Markets Slide After Weak U.S. Jobs Numbers
By [Your Name] – February 16, 2026
The crypto market opened the week on a downbeat note, with the total market capitalization slipping 2 % to roughly $2.39 trillion after the latest U.S. employment report fell short of expectations. The decline was driven primarily by the large‑cap segment, where most coins posted modest losses.
Price Action
- Bitcoin (BTC) traded around $67,500 on Monday, down about 2 % over the past 24 hours and 1.7 % for the week. The price briefly breached the $70,000 mark before retreating. Since the early‑February dip to $60,000, BTC has largely been confined to a $68k–$70k band, with daily trading volume averaging $40 billion, signalling active but indecisive market participation.
- Ethereum (ETH) fell roughly 3 % in the last day and is down 3.5 % on the weekly chart.
- Among the top‑10 tokens, TRON (TRX) was the only outlier posting a modest gain, while Dogecoin (DOGE) suffered the steepest drop, slipping 7.5 % in 24 hours, even though it remains close to a 7 % weekly increase.
Market Sentiment
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index continues to linger in “extreme fear” territory, a condition that has persisted throughout most of the past month. Analysts at Keyrock note that Bitcoin’s price movement is increasingly mirroring the behavior of high‑beta technology stocks, diminishing its appeal as a macro hedge. Their assessment reads:
“Bitcoin behaves like an extension of the tech sector, struggling to decouple during risk‑off periods. Until it consistently moves opposite to a weakening dollar, its diversification narrative remains under pressure.”
Winners and Losers
- Cosmos (ATOM) led the daily gainers, climbing about 2.4 %, followed by Bittensor (TAO), which rose 1 %.
- On the downside, Rain (RAIN) dropped more than 8 %, and Dogecoin emerged as the second‑largest decliner among large‑cap assets.
Liquidations and Funding Flows
Data from CoinGlass show that $232 million in crypto derivatives were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with long positions accounting for roughly $159 million. Bitcoin and Ethereum contributed similarly, with liquidations of $105 million and $90 million, respectively.
ETF inflows remain negative on a weekly basis despite a modest net inflow on Friday. SoSoValue reports that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced net outflows of $360 million over the last week, leaving total assets at $87 billion as of Feb 13. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw outflows of $161.2 million, with assets totaling $11.7 billion.
Macro backdrop
The market’s softness follows a revised U.S. jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday, Feb 13. Employers added only 181,000 jobs in the most recent month—far below the previously forecast 584,000 and the 1.46 million added a year earlier. The disappointing labor data reinforced a risk‑averse stance across both traditional and digital‑asset markets.
In parallel, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Congress to move forward with the CLARITY Act, a bill designed to set federal rules for digital assets. He argued that clear regulatory guidance would provide “great comfort” to investors, though he cautioned that bipartisan support could waver later in the year.
Key Takeaways
- Broad market decline – Total crypto cap down 2 % to $2.39 trillion following weaker U.S. employment data.
- Large‑cap pressure – Bitcoin and Ethereum both posted double‑digit weekly losses; only TRX bucked the trend.
- Risk‑on assets correlation – Bitcoin’s price moves are increasingly tied to tech‑sector risk sentiment, challenging its role as a safe‑haven hedge.
- Elevated fear – The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in “extreme fear,” suggesting continued caution among traders.
- Liquidity squeezes – Over $200 million in liquidations, dominated by long positions, indicate heightened volatility.
- ETF outflows – Spot crypto ETFs continue to see net withdrawals, reflecting broader investor wariness.
- Regulatory outlook – Advocacy for the CLARITY Act underscores a push for clearer federal guidance, which could stabilize markets if enacted.
The confluence of softer macro data, heightened risk aversion, and ongoing regulatory uncertainty suggests that crypto markets may remain on the defensive in the near term, with price movements likely to stay closely linked to broader equity and macroeconomic trends.
Source: https://thedefiant.io/news/markets/crypto-markets-slump-market-update-feb-16-2026
