US Crypto Markets Plunge Amid Rising Treasury Yields Following Strong January Jobs Report
By Choi Won-seok | Approved: February 12, 2026, 06:33 KST
In a volatile trading session on February 11 (US time), major cryptocurrencies and crypto-related stocks in the United States experienced sharp declines. The downturn came amid a stronger-than-expected January US employment report and rising US Treasury yields, which put pressure on risk assets.
Cryptocurrency Prices Slide
As of 5:53 a.m. KST on February 12, just minutes before the close of the US stock market, Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $67,502.94, down 1.86% on the day. Ethereum (ETH) also fell 2.83% to $1,953.10. Ripple’s XRP declined 1.25% to $1.3801, while Solana (SOL) suffered the steepest drop among major tokens, plunging 3.59% to $79.68. Rising US Treasury Yields
Alongside the cryptocurrency slump, yields on US Treasuries rose across the curve. The two-year Treasury yield climbed to 3.516%, the 10-year to 4.176%, and the 30-year to 4.817% as of 5:58 a.m. KST on February 12. The rise in bond yields reflects market expectations of a tightening monetary policy following strong economic data.
US Equity Markets and Crypto Stocks Also Weaken
The major US stock indices closed lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.13%, the S&P 500 losing 0.005%, the Nasdaq down 0.16%, and the Russell 2000 dropping 0.38%. Within the equities space, crypto-related stocks saw notable declines. MicroStrategy (MSTR), which holds a significant amount of Bitcoin, saw its shares drop 5.21%. Other crypto-focused firms also tumbled: Block was down 6.09%, Robinhood (HOOD) plunged 8.91%, and Coinbase Global (COIN) fell 5.73%.
Market Dynamics Fueled by Strong US Employment Data
The sell-off was triggered by the release of the January US employment report, which showed nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 jobs — far exceeding the Reuters consensus estimate of 70,000. The unemployment rate also edged down to 4.3% from 4.4% in December. This stronger-than-expected labor market data diminished market hopes for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, prompting a surge in Treasury yields and weighing on risk assets such as equities and cryptocurrencies.
CNBC’s market commentary noted that the combination of rising bond yields and robust employment data “pressed down risk markets,” manifesting in broad declines across major US indices, cryptocurrencies, and crypto-related shares.
Summary
The US market arena on February 11 illustrated the continuing sensitivity of crypto assets and related stocks to macroeconomic indicators and interest rate movements. Strong employment data boosted Treasury yields, reducing risk appetite and triggering widespread declines in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Solana, as well as significant sell-offs in crypto-centric equities such as MicroStrategy, Block, Robinhood, and Coinbase.
As the market digests the implications of the solid jobs report for monetary policy, investors remain cautious about risk asset exposure, including the volatile digital asset sector.
© 2026 Choice Economics. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited. For more financial news, visit choicenews.co.kr
Contact: [email protected]