The U.S. employment market rebounded in a big way from February’s sizable losses.

According to a Friday morning release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country added 178,000 jobs in March, after losing 133,000 positions the previous month. Economist forecasts had been for 60,000 jobs to have been added.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% versus 4.4% in February and expectations for 4.4%.

At least part of the beat was due to a sizable downward revision in the February data from an originally reported decline of 92,000.

Trading quietly near the $67,000 level in the hours ahead of the data, bitcoin BTC$67,097.67 remained there in the minutes just following the report.

Expectations about the future course of interest rates, of late, have been far more influenced by events in the Middle East and the price of crude oil than by the outlook for domestic economic growth.

As recently as last week, oil’s surging price had markets forecasting imminent rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Speaking earlier this week, though, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank recognized that oil price shocks — while initially making headline inflation numbers look worse — can depress economic activity. He indicated the Fed would be in no hurry to raise rates in response to short-term moves in the price of crude.

Bitcoin’s drawdown narrative is shifting from a pattern of extreme collapses to a more mature market dynamic, according to Cathie Wood, the founder and CEO of ARK Invest. In a CNBC appearance on Squawk Box dated April 1, Wood argued that the era of 85% or greater corrections may be behind BTC, framing the asset as a proven technology and monetary tool rather than a volatile tech experiment.

Speaking amid a price backdrop around the 69,000 level—the prior all-time high reached in 2021—Wood’s remarks come after a long bear market that wiped out roughly 80% of BTC’s value before a bottom near 15,600. On-chain data, however, suggest the current downturn has not yet mirrored the depth seen in prior cycles. Glassnode data indicate the bear market’s maximum drawdown from BTC’s peak remains well short of past extremes, around 52% from the record high of about 126,200 in October 2025.

Key takeaways

• ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood argues Bitcoin is past the era of 85%+ price collapses, framing BTC as a proven technology and monetary asset rather than a speculative fad.
• Analysts disagree on the next significant price level: a chartist forecast points to roughly $34,000 as a bottom (a 72% drawdown), while consensus from broader coverage points to a range of roughly $40,000 to $50,000.
• On-chain data show the bear market depth to date is shallower than in some previous cycles, with maximum drawdown around 52% from the all-time high, suggesting a potentially different extinction-like pattern for BTC.
• April seasonality and near-term momentum remain in focus: some analysts see historical patterns of spring recoveries during bear phases, while macro headlines and liquidity conditions continue to influence the path forward.

Wood’s view: BTC’s maturation and the new normal

Wood’s comments came during a dialogue about Bitcoin’s long-run narrative. She stressed that the 85–95% declines associated with earlier, less mature markets are unlikely to recur for Bitcoin, a narrative she frames as evidence of BTC’s transformation into a validated monetary system and a new asset class. The remarks echo her longstanding bullish stance on Bitcoin, which has been a hallmark of ARK’s research orientation toward disruptive technologies.

At the time of her appearance, Bitcoin was hovering near the post-2021 high watermark—an area that previously marked the transition into a multi-quarter bear cycle. Wood’s perspective contrasts with the more cautious or range-bound themes that have dominated much of the current trading backdrop, where macro conditions, policy signals, and sector rotation often determine day-to-day moves.

That said, Wood’s optimism sits alongside a chorus of caution from other analysts who note that the road ahead remains data-driven and uncertain—a reminder that even as BTC stabilizes, macro headwinds can quickly reassert themselves.

Forecasts diverge on the floor of the bear market

While Wood’s stance centers on BTC’s maturation, other voices point to specific downside scenarios. Tony Severino, a veteran market technician, floated a bottom near $34,000, implying a 72% drawdown from the peak. He summarized the trajectory in a post on X, suggesting that a decline to that level would mark a “max drawdown” consistent with a new phase for the asset.

Beyond Severino’s projection, broader market commentary remains split. A section of traders and analysts continues to anticipate a bottom in the higher $40,000s to low $50,000s, a range that Cointelegraph has cited in prior coverage as a common region for a generational floor rather than a catastrophic collapse. For some observers, the 40k–50k zone remains the anchor for a long-term re-rating of Bitcoin’s risk profile.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike McGlone has warned that prices could be trending toward seven-year lows, underscoring the risk that macro developments—such as central-bank policy and global liquidity—could extend the bear phase even as on-chain metrics offer a more nuanced view of drawdown depth.

Seasonality, on-chain signals, and what to watch next

Seasonality has long been cited as a potential internal driver of Bitcoin’s price path. Timothy Peterson, a network economist and commentator, highlighted a pattern in which April historically functions as a turning point during bearish cycles. A chart he shared on X illustrates April as a potential inflection month in past bear phases, though whether that dynamic repeats remains contingent on broader market conditions.

March’s monthly close added a modest, 1.8% gain for BTC/USD, effectively ending a five-month losing streak. The move, while not dramatic, keeps the door open for a spring rebound, provided macro momentum aligns with technical and on-chain signals.

On-chain context adds another layer to the discussion. Glassnode’s analysis shows that the current bear market’s depth—though material—is not yet aligned with the most severe declines observed historically. The all-time high of roughly 126,200 in October 2025 has given way to a drawdown of about 52%, a figure that suggests the market could behave differently than in previous cycles if macro conditions stay supportive or liquidity improves.

For investors, this combination of on-chain resilience and mixed macro signals creates a nuanced backdrop. A Bitcoin trading environment shaped by a less severe drawdown yet ongoing external headwinds could translate into a more protracted consolidation rather than a sharp capitulation or a swift breakout. Observers will be watching for signs of sustained demand, improving liquidity in risk markets, and any shifts in policy that could alter the risk-reward calculus for crypto exposure.

As the calendar turns to April, market participants will parse a mix of seasonality whispers, data-driven cautions, and evolving macro narratives. The next several weeks could prove decisive in whether BTC resumes a broader uptrend, remains range-bound, or teeters on renewed volatility as external conditions shift.

This article synthesizes observations from multiple sources, including Cathie Wood’s CNBC discussion, on-chain data from Glassnode, and commentary from market analysts such as Tony Severino and Mike McGlone, as well as prior coverage from Cointelegraph on price floors and seasonality in Bitcoin’s bear markets. Investors should treat forecasts as probabilistic scenarios rather than certainties and remain mindful of the evolving macro landscape that continues to shape crypto markets.

Cartesi token soared over 100% to a 3-month high of $0.049 on Friday. Will the Layer 2 token edge higher over the coming sessions, or will it succumb to profit-taking?

According to data from crypto.news, Cartesi (CTSI) price rallied nearly 110% to $0.049 on Friday, reaching its highest level since November 2022.

The rally came in a high-volume trading environment. In the past 24 hours,  the daily trading volume of Cartesi rose 1,260%, suggesting a sharp rise in demand from traders that likely buoyed the token toward its highs today.

There are three main reasons why Cartesi price broke out today.

First, Cartesi’s Permissionless Refereed Tournament fraud-proof system is reportedly nearing the Stage 2 classification by L2BEAT. This milestone would rank it among the most secure and decentralized Layer 2 scaling solutions, setting it apart from competitors that still rely on permissioned validators.

Second, the project’s recent initiative to ship high-throughput applications reached critical implementation deadlines in April. Tangible developer interest in the Cartesi Machine, which allows decentralized apps to run on Linux, is finally translating from theoretical potential into live deployments.

Third, after months of trading in a narrow range of $0.02 to $0.025, the sudden break above long-term resistance triggered a volatility spike. This caused a short squeeze, forcing bearish traders to buy back their positions and further fueling the massive gains seen today.

On the daily chart, Cartesi price has broken out of a multi-month descending parallel channel pattern, a sign that bulls have finally gained control of the market. It has already attained the target level from the breakout, suggesting there could be some selloff on the horizon.

Such selloff risks also come as the relative strength index has crossed the overbought threshold. Crypto rallies often face some pullback when this metric hits an overbought state.

Additionally, the Chaikin Money Flow index showed a negative reading, a sign that investors have started to rotate capital or take profits at these higher levels.

Hence, the Cartesi token could likely retest its immediate support of $0.030 before its next leg higher.

Bitcoin (BTC) is “done” with drawdowns of 85% or more from all-time highs, says ARK Invest CEO, Cathie Wood.

Key points:

• Bitcoin will not see another correction of 85% or more versus its latest all-time high, Cathie Wood argues.

• A new prediction sees $34,000 becoming the next BTC price bottom.

• Bitcoin bear-market seasonality hints that a reversal could come this month.

Wood on BTC price: No more 85% “collapses”

In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box segment on April 1, Wood stayed calm about double-digit BTC price losses.

“Believe it or not, in the Bitcoin community, down 50% — if that’s as far as it goes — they’ll consider that a real victory,” she said.

“Because you’re right; the 85-95% collapses associated with a very new technology — that’s done. This is a proven technology, it’s a proven monetary system and it’s a new asset class.”

Wood, a longtime Bitcoin bull, was speaking as Bitcoin circled its old $69,000 all-time highs from 2021.

Those preceded a year-long bear market in which BTC/USD lost nearly 80% before bottoming at $15,600. That marked the latest such correction, with bear markets typically bringing losses around the 80% mark.

Data from onchain analytics platform Glassnode shows that the current bear market has yet to match historical patterns with maximum downside versus Bitcoin’s $126,200 record from October 2025 at 52%.

Responding to Wood, analyst Tony Severino predicted that 2026 would bring a price bottom equal to a 72% drawdown.

“Correct, -72% max drawdown next =$34,000,” he wrote on X.

That figure exceeds commonly held predictions by traders for where Bitcoin’s next generational floor will be. As Cointelegraph reported, consensus favors the area between $40,000 and $50,000.

This week, however, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike McGlone warned that price may already be trending toward seven-year lows. 

Bitcoin historically rebounds in April

Continuing the bear-market comparison, data from network economist Timothy Peterson revealed that April could mark some form of inflection point for price.

Related: Bitcoin risks new lows as US dollar targets highest level since April 2025

A chart uploaded to X this week shows April typically being a recovery month during bearish phases. 

The March monthly close, meanwhile, ended a five-month losing streak for BTC/USD with modest gains of 1.8%.