Bitcoin Falls Below $66,000 After Jobless Claims and Trade Deficit

Bitcoin slipped below $66,000 after mixed US economic data, as initial jobless claims beat forecasts and the trade deficit widened sharply. The Labor Department reported 206,000 initial jobless claims, down from a revised 229,000 the prior week and below expectations of 225,000.

The four-week moving average edged lower to 219,000, while continuing claims rose by 17,000 to 1.869 million, slightly above forecasts of 1.860 million. This reflects a stable but softening labor market, with limited new hiring but no dramatic layoffs. The Treasury Department said the trade gap surged to $70.3 billion in January, well above the $55.5 billion expected and the prior $53.0 billion print, reflecting growing external imbalances amid persistent domestic demand.

Markets were rattled by the unexpected jump, fueling renewed risk-off sentiment in crypto markets.

United States

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