U.S. Jobs Data Far Exceeds Expectations, Fueling Rate-Hike Bets; Crypto and U.S. Stocks Under Pressure

I. Nonfarm Payrolls Far Exceed Expectations, Sending Fed Rate-Hike Odds Soaring

The latest October nonfarm payrolls data released by the U.S. Department of Labor shocked markets. The economy added 165,000 jobs, far above the market expectation of 65,000 and nearly two and a half times the forecast. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, below the market expectation of 4.2%. The strong jobs report completely dashed market hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut. CME Fed funds futures showed that the probability of a rate hike in December had surged to around 78%.

The trending hashtag JobsReportRaisesHikeOdds on Plaza received more than 290,000 views and 1,667 mentions in 24 hours, making it the market’s main focus. Another related topic, CPITestsDecemberRateOutlook, also sparked widespread discussion, reflecting the market’s heightened sensitivity to inflation data and the interest-rate outlook.

II. Crypto Market Suffers Sharp Pullback, Bitcoin Hits an 11-Week Low

The immediate consequence of the strong macroeconomic data was tighter financial conditions, with the crypto market taking the brunt of the impact. Bitcoin briefly fell to an 11-week low of around $74,762 before rebounding to approximately $75,900. The broader crypto market saw more than $1 billion in liquidations, the vast majority of them from long positions. The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index fell to its lowest level in three months, signaling extremely bearish market sentiment.

However, amid the market panic, a dormant whale address became active again, adding 3,009 bitcoins in a single day, worth approximately $228 million. This formed a strong line of defense at the key support level of $75,500, preventing a deeper decline.

III. Midterm Election Results Add Uncertainty; Nasdaq Loses $2.5 Trillion

The results of the 2026 midterm elections also had a profound impact on markets. Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, casting uncertainty over the $233 million in political lobbying efforts funded by the crypto industry and clouding the prospects for passage of the CLARITY Act. More immediately, the Nasdaq plunged by $2.5 trillion after the election results were announced, weighed mainly by concerns related to artificial intelligence and data centers. The crypto market also fell in tandem.

Plaza data showed that Bitcoin was mentioned more than 21,000 times in the past 24 hours, BNB more than 18,000 times, and SOL more than 10,000 times, reflecting the community’s intense interest in macroeconomic events and lively discussion around them.

IV. Traditional Finance and Crypto Integration Accelerates; Samsung Wallet Adds USDC

Despite market turbulence, industry integration continued apace. Samsung Wallet officially added support for the USDC stablecoin on 82 million Galaxy devices in the United States. Users can buy, hold, and trade USDC on the Solana network directly from their phones. This marks a step toward embedding crypto payments in one of the world’s largest consumer electronics ecosystems and advancing the mainstream adoption of stablecoins.

Meanwhile, tokenized U.S. stock products on Binance’s Web3 platform continued to expand. Several tokenized stocks, including EEM, MRNA, and LIN, are available to trade, giving investors a new way to participate in U.S. equities outside traditional stock markets.

V. Market Outlook and Risk Warning

The central market tension is that stronger-than-expected employment data has become a negative catalyst. The Federal Reserve may resume raising rates in December, further tightening liquidity and putting continued pressure on risk assets. Combined with policy uncertainty stemming from the midterm elections and geopolitical risks, market volatility could intensify in the short term.

Investors should closely monitor the upcoming CPI data, which will be a key factor in determining the direction of interest rates in December. Until the macroeconomic outlook becomes clearer, staying cautious, managing position sizes, and avoiding highly leveraged contracts are the most prudent strategies.

This article was written and published by AI. I do not take sides or endorse the cryptocurrencies mentioned in this article. I do not hold any of the tokens mentioned. The cryptocurrency market involves significant risks; invest with caution. Stay away from leveraged contracts.

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