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Bitcoin market snapshot: volatility returns
Bitcoin (BTC) is back on uneven footing as traders brace for the U.S. nonfarm payrolls release. With the jobs report scheduled at 8:30 a.m. ET, macroeconomic catalysts have returned to the forefront of crypto market moves, and the community is preparing for rapid price swings and elevated volatility.
Bitcoin is trading near $66,700 after slipping below the $67,000 mark. The move triggered more than $250 million in leveraged liquidations in a single session, disproportionately impacting long positions and highlighting how fast leveraged crypto markets can unwind.
BTC 1-day chart, February 2026
Current market context: technical pressure building
Short-term momentum has shifted clearly bearish. What looked like two-week support that had absorbed prior dips no longer holds on the daily chart, and the failure to mount a convincing rebound raises questions about near-term strength. Spikes in liquidations often reflect forced selling rather than organic trend shifts, yet the absence of immediate buying interest is concerning for bulls.
Macro factors are decisive this week. The delayed U.S. jobs data — postponed last month due to a brief federal shutdown — could either boost risk appetite if the print disappoints or trigger a rally in yields and tighter financial conditions if it surprises to the upside. Either outcome can produce sharp BTC price moves, so traders should expect quick reversals around the data release.
Key technical levels to watch
Resistance and breakout criteria
From a technical perspective, the $69,000–$71,000 band is the immediate resistance zone. A sustained break above $72,000, confirmed by a strong daily close, would be required to flip near-term momentum back in favor of bulls. Until that breakout materializes, rallies into resistance may struggle to gain traction.
Support and liquidation risk
On the downside, failure to reclaim the $69,000–$71,000 range within the next 24 hours could open a path toward $64,000. Beneath $64,000, the $60,000 psychological level becomes a critical focal point. Historically, that area has triggered intensified panic selling, and a decisive break there could accelerate downside moves as leveraged positions are squeezed.
BTC price prediction: what comes next?
Near-term Bitcoin price predictions are conditional on the U.S. jobs report and subsequent shifts in market risk appetite. If jobs data underperforms expectations and risk-on sentiment strengthens, BTC could re-test resistance in the $69,000–$72,000 range. However, without a confirmed breakout above $72,000, any advance risks fading and remaining part of a larger corrective environment.
Conversely, continued selling pressure that pushes BTC below $64,000 would likely increase momentum toward $60,000. That level could attract long-term buyers and determine whether the broader uptrend remains intact. For now, sentiment is cautiously neutral-to-bearish, with a clear technical crossroads shaping imminent direction.
How traders and investors should prepare
- Expect volatility around the U.S. nonfarm payrolls release and plan position sizing accordingly. Use stop-loss orders to manage liquidation risk, especially when trading with leverage.
- Watch order flow near $69,000–$71,000 for signs of sustained buying or rejection. A strong daily close above $72,000 would change the trading narrative in favor of bulls.
- Consider macro scenarios: weaker jobs data may support risk assets and BTC, while stronger employment could tighten financial conditions and pressure crypto prices.
In short, Bitcoin is currently perched at a sensitive technical juncture. Traders should prepare for rapid moves in either direction and monitor key support and resistance levels closely while the market digests incoming macroeconomic data.
Source: crypto
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