How Internet Computer reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 21 May 2026

The short answer

An exceptional reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Internet Computer's price swung 3.01 times as much as in a normal 15 minutes that day. For an Initial Claims release, 1.45 times is usual. An hour later the price was 0.80% higher.

3.01x

Exceptional

Trading (volume ratio)
1.86x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.59x
Price at 8:30 AM
$2.510
15 minutes later
+0.40%
One hour later
+0.80%
range 1.20%, hour before 0.80%
ICP/USDT, 1 hour candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

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

Open
2.540
Close
2.560
24h change
0.78%
24h high
2.600
24h low
2.490
24h volume
2.576M ICP

Measured by Clometrix

Internet Computer's volatility ratio was 3.01x, against 1.45x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 1.86x, against a typical 1.59x. That is more than twice what this release usually does. 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 Internet Computer moved

Internet Computer was at $2.510 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.4% higher, and an hour later 0.8% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.2% of its price, against 0.8% in the hour before.

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 21 May 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 209K for the week ending 16th May, from 211K in the week ending 9th May.

It arrived at the same moment as 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 Internet Computer about as much as those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 1.51x across 88, against 1.33x across 197. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 3.01x compares with 1.33x for those, so it moved the price more than its circumstances alone would suggest.

Its record

Across 285 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Internet Computer's median volatility ratio is 1.45x.

How it compares

Across 285 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Internet Computer's usual price swing is 1.45x. This one was 2.08 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.45x. Thick line: this release, 3.01x.

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 2.51 2.50 2.50 -0.40% 0.40% 0.00% 3,307 ICP
5 minutes 2.52 2.50 2.52 0.40% 0.79% 0.40% 24,957 ICP
10 minutes 2.52 2.50 2.52 0.40% 0.79% 0.79% 31,711 ICP
15 minutes 2.53 2.50 2.52 0.40% 1.19% 0.79% 38,000 ICP
30 minutes 2.53 2.50 2.52 0.40% 1.19% 0.79% 68,543 ICP
1 hour 2.53 2.50 2.53 0.79% 1.19% 0.79% 87,356 ICP
2 hours 2.56 2.50 2.54 1.18% 2.34% 1.19% 189,211 ICP
4 hours 2.56 2.49 2.51 0.00% 2.73% 3.86% 408,226 ICP
6 hours 2.58 2.49 2.57 2.33% 3.49% 3.86% 781,137 ICP
8 hours 2.59 2.49 2.51 -2.79% 3.86% 2.31% 840,877 ICP
12 hours 2.60 2.49 2.56 1.95% 4.23% 4.23% 1.313M ICP

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 1.71x 1.50x Ordinary
Ethereum 1.64x 1.46x Ordinary
XRP Not measured 1.18x -
BNB 1.81x 1.42x Ordinary
Solana 1.68x 1.38x Ordinary
Dogecoin 2.06x 1.38x Strong
TRON 1.24x 1.33x Quiet
Cardano 2.00x 1.35x Strong
Chainlink 2.69x 1.43x Strong
Sui 1.03x 1.24x Quiet
Bitcoin Cash 1.56x 1.34x Ordinary
Hedera 2.89x 1.32x Exceptional
Avalanche 2.38x 1.42x Strong
Litecoin 2.53x 1.39x Strong
Gram 1.54x 1.02x Strong
Shiba Inu 1.50x 1.33x Ordinary
Uniswap 1.54x 1.34x Ordinary
Polkadot 1.03x 1.32x Quiet
Aave 1.13x 1.38x Quiet
Bittensor 1.98x 1.40x Strong
NEAR Protocol 1.49x 1.24x Quiet
Aptos 1.76x 1.41x Ordinary
Internet Computer 3.01x 1.45x Exceptional
POL (prev. MATIC) 4.60x 1.40x Exceptional
Filecoin 1.83x 1.27x Strong

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 Internet Computer

Questions about this page

Is 3.01x a lot?

For an Initial Claims release it is exceptional: the usual is 1.45x. 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 Internet Computer 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.