Bitcoin fell back below $80,000 after stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data increased expectations for a Federal Reserve rate increase at the Sept. 15–16 meeting. The cryptocurrency traded near $79,600, down about 1.5% in 24 hours, after reaching an intraday high near $81,370 and falling as low as $78,723. Its earlier rally above $82,000 had taken Bitcoin to its highest level since May, but sellers again defended the approximately $82,000–$82,800 resistance zone. The move interrupted a recovery of roughly 30% from the August range near $62,500. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payroll employment rose by 162,000 in August, compared with an average monthly gain of 31,000 over the prior 12 months, while unemployment held at 4.1%. Reuters reported that the implied probability of a Federal Reserve rate increase rose to 61% from 52% before the data, while Citigroup shifted its forecast for the next Fed rate cut to June 2027 from October 2026. Higher yields and a stronger dollar added pressure to non-yielding and risk-sensitive assets. Analyst Rain said the jobs report was the immediate catalyst, although Bitcoin had already been rejected near $82,400 several hours earlier. Technical indicators remain mixed: the daily RSI (relative strength index) was 66.28, below the overbought threshold of 70, while Aroon Up stood at 85.71% against Aroon Down at 7.14%. Bitcoin remained above the 4-hour Supertrend line at $78,190, with support around $78,000–$78,200, and its 4-hour Chaikin Money Flow reading was 0.19. A daily close above $82,504 would weaken the rejection setup and could open a path toward $90,000, followed by the 2026 peak near $97,867, while a break below the Supertrend could expose approximately $77,000, $75,700 and $71,800. CoinGlass liquidation data showed competing leveraged-position clusters near $80,000, between roughly $81,800 and $82,300, and around $78,000 and $76,000–$77,000. Trader Gerla said a high-volume close above $82,000–$84,000 would reduce the risk of a bull trap, while another rejection could force leveraged buyers out. The next major macro test is the August consumer price index, scheduled for Sept. 11, five days before the Fed decision.