Bitcoin remains the only major financial market still trading this Good Friday as the March 2026 U.S. jobs report lands at 8:30 AM ET, with NYSE closed and sentiment sitting at extreme fear levels.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics scheduled the March 2026 Employment Situation release for Friday, April 3, 2026 at 8:30 AM ET. That timing creates a rare collision: a market-moving data release drops while U.S. stock exchanges are dark for the holiday.
Why Bitcoin Is Still Trading While Wall Street Is Shut
NYSE confirmed that all its markets are closed on Friday, April 3, 2026 for Good Friday. CME Group also flagged special closes and settlements for its FX, cryptocurrency, and interest-rate products on this date because of the jobs report landing on a holiday.
Bitcoin, by contrast, does not observe holidays. Crypto trading remains available around the clock, even when stock markets pause for scheduled closures. That makes the Bitcoin spot market one of the few liquid venues where traders can react to the employment data in real time.
According to CryptoSlate’s market framing, Bitcoin acts as the live macro barometer while traditional U.S. markets shut for Easter. That characterization is interpretive rather than a strict market-status fact, since forex and some futures markets also operate on modified schedules. Still, Bitcoin’s continuous availability stands out against the broader shutdown of U.S. cash equity trading.
Why the April 3 Jobs Report Could Move Bitcoin
The Employment Situation report is the primary market-moving catalyst this week. It can reset expectations around Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions, which directly affects demand for risk assets like Bitcoin.
A stronger-than-expected jobs number would signal a resilient labor market, giving the Fed less reason to cut rates. That typically pressures risk assets because higher rates make safer investments like Treasury bonds more attractive relative to Bitcoin and equities.
A weaker print would do the opposite, boosting expectations for rate cuts and potentially lifting Bitcoin as cheaper borrowing costs tend to push capital toward higher-risk, higher-reward assets. The stakes are amplified by the fact that traditional equity desks cannot reposition until markets reopen next week, as discussions around how blockchain could modernize traditional finance continue to gain relevance.
Sentiment was already fragile heading into the report. The Fear & Greed Index printed 9 out of 100 on April 3, labeled Extreme Fear. That reading suggests the market is pricing in significant downside risk before the data even arrives.
What Bitcoin Holders Should Watch This Weekend
At press time, Bitcoin traded at $66,802 with a 24-hour change of roughly +0.78% and 24-hour volume near $38.84 billion. The modest uptick belies the tension underneath, with extreme fear sentiment and a major data release converging on a holiday-thinned tape.
Holiday-thinned liquidity can amplify moves in either direction. With fewer participants active over the Easter weekend, a sharp reaction to the jobs data could carry further than it would during a normal trading session. Developments in stablecoin reserve frameworks and broader regulatory shifts add another layer of uncertainty for crypto holders navigating the weekend.
CME’s special settlement treatment for crypto-linked products on April 3 means derivatives positioning may also shift in unusual ways. Traders watching futures open interest and funding rates over the weekend will get early signals about how institutional participants are interpreting the jobs data, even as the upcoming TOKEN2049 event keeps the industry’s attention split between macro and crypto-native catalysts.
The practical takeaway: Bitcoin’s price action between now and Monday morning, when U.S. equity desks reopen, will reflect how the market digests the jobs number without the usual safety valve of stock trading. Watching volume shifts and the Fear & Greed Index over the weekend offers a real-time read on whether the extreme fear dissipates or deepens heading into next week.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
