Strong jobs data lifts rate-hike odds: Here’s why crypto still benefits

The crypto market is still pricing in aggressive rate hikes for the 2026 cycle. So far this year, there haven’t been any rate cuts. Inflation stayed above the Fed’s 2% target in early Q1, which kept expectations for cuts low. Then the West Asia crisis in March pushed inflation up to 3.3%, the strongest monthly reading since May 2024, further reducing the chances of rate cuts. Against this backdrop, a strong jobs report sparked a market reaction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the US economy added 115,000 jobs in April, well above expectations of 65,000. Unemployment came in at 4.3%, in line with forecasts. In short, the U.S. labor market is still holding up well, with job gains beating expectations and unemployment staying steady at forecast levels. The market reaction was almost instant.  According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the odds of a rate hike in 2026 rose to 20.8% after the stronger-than-expected jobs data. Markets are now leaning toward a more hawkish Fed outlook, with inflation still well above the 2% target. In short, the crypto market is no longer just pricing in rate cuts. Instead, it is beginning to price in the possibility of rate hikes in 2026.  Historically, rate hikes tend to be bearish for risk assets. The logic is simple: Higher interest rates raise borrowing costs and tighten liquidity, reducing capital flows into assets like crypto. However, when combined with other factors, momentum can still tilt in favor of risk assets. Crypto is positioned ahead of gold in the debasement narrative The "debasement" narrative appears to be shaping the Q2 cycle so far. From a technical standpoint, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), after three straight quarterly gains, is down over 2% in Q2 so far. This doesn’t look like a fluke. The Fed’s repeated liquidity injections have kept pressure on the dollar, helping to cap Treasury yields by pulling capital away from the bond market. In this context, JPMorgan Chase’s view of Bitcoin [BTC] over gold as a stronger debasement trade is starting to carry real weight. Backing this, the BTC/XAU ratio is up 16.5% in Q2. Meanwhile, institutional flows are tracking the move. BTC ETFs have already pulled in $1.25 billion in net inflows. Another $720 million, and May could flip April, potentially marking the strongest monthly ETF print so far in 2026. In short, macro liquidity is weighing on the dollar, and capital is rotating into crypto, with Bitcoin gaining strength as a debasement hedge. Against this backdrop, the 20% rise in rate-hike odds begins to tilt the narrative further in crypto’s favor. The logic is simple: With elevated inflation still pressuring the U.S. dollar, Bitcoin’s relative strength versus gold as a macro hedge, supported by ETF flows, reinforces its long-term outlook. In this context, the $1.25 billion in ETF inflows so far in May may just be the start of a larger trend. Macro positioning is increasingly shifting in favor of crypto as liquidity conditions, inflation dynamics, and rate expectations continue to support Bitcoin through the cycle. Final Summary ETF inflows and Bitcoin strength vs. gold show more capital moving into crypto as a debasement hedge. Even with higher rate hike odds and inflation, liquidity still supports crypto demand.