Weak U.S. Jobs Data Lifts Bitcoin Above $86,000

Weak U.S. Jobs Data — Bitcoin held gains above $86,000 after a U.S. government report showed a sharp slowdown in job creation and a rising unemployment rate, data that could influence Federal Reserve interest rate policy.

The U.S. added just 29,000 jobs in September, far below the consensus forecast of 90,000, according to the Nonfarm Payrolls report released on October 2, 2026. The unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.2% from 4.1% the prior month.

Previous months’ data were also revised lower, with July’s figures now showing a net loss of jobs. The weak labor market figures are seen by traders as increasing the likelihood the Fed will maintain or cut interest rates, a scenario often viewed as supportive for risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin was trading around $86,600, up more than 2% over the prior 24 hours, in the immediate aftermath of the report’s release.