Bitcoin (BTC-USD) hovered near the $90,000 mark on Friday, with price action unable to sustain upside momentum as traders shift focus to the US non‑farm payrolls (NFP) report later in the session.
By 12:00 GMT, Bitcoin was trading around $90,485.77, down modestly on the day, with the broader crypto market showing tentative behaviour as risk appetite paused ahead of the crucial US jobs data.
The movement comes after this week’s attempts to break key resistance around $94,000–$95,000 repeatedly stall, leaving Bitcoin contained in its familiar trading range. Technical levels above $92,000 have proven difficult to hold, and Thursday’s retreat below $90,000 shows how sellers quickly appear as soon as upside exhaustion sets in.
The December non‑farm payrolls data is due at 13:30 GMT and is expected to influence Federal Reserve interest‑rate outlooks. Better‑than‑expected jobs will likely cool rate‑cut bets, which historically weighs on risk assets including Bitcoin, while weaker payrolls could revive speculation of looser monetary policy — a dynamic that often benefits digital assets.
In Asian trading, Bitcoin steadied after a muted start to the year and geopolitical uncertainty also factored into cautious positioning. Investors have kept risk exposure measured as broader markets anticipate not just the jobs report but also a Supreme Court decision on global tariffs, adding layers of macro complexity.
The options market is adding its own pressure, with over $2.2 billion in Bitcoin and Ether options set to expire later today, typically suppressing volatility as market makers hedge positions near so‑called “max pain” levels.As a result, prices may remain anchored near current levels until settlement is complete.
Ethereum and XRP (XRP-USD) have been moving in tandem with Bitcoin, with ETH (ETH-USD) holding above the $3,000 range and XRP trading just above $2. However, both assets have trimmed gains in the recent pullback, highlighting caution.
For now, traders appear reluctant to build aggressive positions, preferring to wait for the NFP release and accompanying economic signals. With key resistance still intact above $94,000 and the macro data just over an hour from release, Bitcoin’s near‑term trajectory depends heavily on the jobs number and the market’s interpretation of the Federal Reserve’s path in the months ahead.