How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 28 August 2025

The short answer

A strong reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 2.10 times as much as in a normal 15 minutes that day. For an Initial Claims release, 1.51 times is usual. An hour later the price was 0.18% higher.

2.10x

Strong

Trading (volume ratio)
2.60x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.69x
Price at 8:30 AM
$112,845.46
15 minutes later
+0.26%
One hour later
+0.18%
range 0.62%, hour before 0.16%
BTC/USDT, 1 minute candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

The dashed orange line is the release. Chart data from Binance.

Open
111,138.50
Close
112,600.00
24h change
1.30%
24h high
113,485.90
24h low
110,862.42
24h volume
11,147 BTC

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 2.10x, against 1.51x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 2.60x, against a typical 1.69x. That is a strong reaction by this release's own standard. Both compare the quarter hour of the release with an ordinary quarter hour that same day, where 1.00x is no change: volatility is how far the price ranged, volume how much traded.

How Bitcoin moved

Bitcoin was at $112,845.46 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.26% higher, and an hour later 0.18% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 0.62% of its price, against 0.16% in the hour before.

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 28 August 2025 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 229K for the week ending 23rd Aug, from 235K in the week ending 16th Aug.

It arrived at the same moment as Gross Domestic Product Report and Continued Jobless Claims, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.

What made it matter

Since 2021, Initial Claims releases in the two weeks before a Fed decision have moved Bitcoin more than those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 1.67x across 93, against 1.43x across 208. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 2.10x compares with 1.43x for those, so it moved the price more than its circumstances alone would suggest.

Its record

Across 301 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's median volatility ratio is 1.51x.

How it compares

Across 301 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 1.51x. This one was 1.39 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.51x. Thick line: this release, 2.10x.

Minute by minute

Each row is the time after the release, with the same length of time before it for comparison.

After High Low Close Change Range Range before Volume
1 minute 113017.91 112845.46 112915.05 0.06% 0.15% 0.03% 34 BTC
5 minutes 113130.64 112781.68 113068.04 0.20% 0.31% 0.09% 152 BTC
10 minutes 113130.64 112781.68 113050.02 0.18% 0.31% 0.09% 206 BTC
15 minutes 113198.99 112781.68 113140.01 0.26% 0.37% 0.11% 238 BTC
30 minutes 113340.01 112781.68 113239.44 0.35% 0.49% 0.13% 440 BTC
1 hour 113485.90 112781.68 113050.01 0.18% 0.62% 0.16% 762 BTC
2 hours 113485.90 112575.43 112634.67 -0.19% 0.80% 0.29% 1,995 BTC
4 hours 113485.90 112391.56 113006.27 0.14% 0.96% 0.40% 3,199 BTC
6 hours 113485.90 112215.32 112646.01 -0.18% 1.12% 0.47% 4,243 BTC
8 hours 113485.90 112391.56 113006.27 -0.04% 0.96% 2.20% 4,469 BTC
12 hours 113485.90 111872.06 112600.00 -0.22% 1.42% 2.20% 6,135 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 2.10x 1.50x Strong
Ethereum 1.99x 1.46x Strong
XRP 0.99x 1.18x Quiet
BNB 2.21x 1.42x Strong
Solana 1.67x 1.38x Ordinary
Dogecoin 1.51x 1.38x Ordinary
TRON 0.98x 1.33x Quiet
Cardano 1.58x 1.35x Ordinary
Chainlink 1.54x 1.43x Ordinary
Sui 1.50x 1.24x Ordinary
Bitcoin Cash 1.99x 1.34x Strong
Hedera 2.12x 1.32x Strong
Avalanche 1.69x 1.42x Ordinary
Litecoin 1.59x 1.39x Ordinary
Gram 2.96x 1.02x Exceptional
Shiba Inu 1.60x 1.33x Ordinary
Uniswap 1.41x 1.34x Quiet
Polkadot 1.48x 1.32x Quiet
Aave 1.48x 1.38x Quiet
Bittensor 1.56x 1.40x Ordinary
NEAR Protocol 1.99x 1.24x Strong
Aptos 1.00x 1.41x Quiet
Internet Computer 1.49x 1.45x Quiet
POL (prev. MATIC) 1.19x 1.40x Quiet
Filecoin 1.00x 1.27x Quiet

What is Initial Jobless Claims?

The weekly claims report is released Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. ET by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Initial claims are new jobless claims filed by U.S. workers seeking unemployment compensation, included in the unemployment insurance weekly claims report. The report, published since 1967, includes a separate count of workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits, known as continuing claims.

Every Initial Claims release for Bitcoin

Questions about this page

Is 2.10x a lot?

For an Initial Claims release it is strong: the usual is 1.51x. Each report has its own usual size, and its releases show it.

Will the next Initial Claims do the same?

Nobody can say. A forecast shows the range Bitcoin moved in after past Initial Claims releases, so you can plan for the likely size of the move.

More questions ยท Glossary

Disclaimer

The data analysis, forecasted results and projections provided herein are based on historical price action and market trends. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, these predictions are speculative and should not be considered a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not assume any liability for any losses that may result from reliance on this information.