Why Is Crypto Crashing? Bitcoin Plunges After US Jobs Shock as $200B Is Liquidated in 15 Minutes

The cryptocurrency market was dumped en masse on fears over what the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision may be, which saw more than $200 million of crypto market value liquidated in just 15 minutes.

The abrupt move came amid yet another shift in expectations for US monetary policy, as the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising its benchmark interest rate moved back to center stage for markets, putting pressure on risk-sensitive markets including cryptocurrencies. Cryptos tend to be sensitive to changes in liquidity expectations and borrowing costs, and were forcefully repriced lower.

The latest volatility is seen as a sign that investors are still divided about the Fed’s September meeting. U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on September 3 that inflation is still meaningfully above the Fed’s 2% goal even after recent disinflation in some economic data.

Waller said he would be inclined to leave the federal funds rate unchanged if incoming data for August confirm the improvement in inflation, but would be prepared to raise rates if the improvement is temporary.

But that uncertainty kept investors cautious around any data from the U.S. Stronger than expected job gains in August, for instance, raised the prospect that policymakers may have to keep a hawkish stance longer or even raise rates. It shows how quickly sentiment can shift when investors try to anticipate the Fed’s next move.