Can Crypto Markets Bounce Back from a Disappointing US Jobs Report?

Regulatory developments and new data offer insight into the industry's future

AI-Synthesized from 5 sources

By Emergent Markets Desk

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Can Crypto Markets Bounce Back from a Disappointing US Jobs Report?

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Regulatory developments and new data offer insight into the industry's future

The cryptocurrency market has started the week on a downturn, with prices slipping lower after a brief rebound last week. The disappointing US jobs report, released on Friday, has been cited as a major factor in the decline. However, recent regulatory developments and new data suggest that the industry may be poised for a rebound.

One of the most significant developments is the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) decision to give Cardano a 75-day shortcut to a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). This move could potentially shorten the path to launch compared to the old process, which took Bitcoin 240 days. According to Reuters, the SEC's new generic listing standards for commodity-based trust shares could provide a fast lane for a spot crypto ETP.

In other regulatory news, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has taken a firm stance on prediction market regulation, arguing that these markets should fall under federal, not state, oversight. The CFTC filed a "friend-of-the-court" brief in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Crypto.com, which is fighting a lawsuit from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Meanwhile, a new study suggests that token launch timing has little impact on an asset's long-term performance. The report, conducted by Haseeb Qureshi, a managing partner at crypto VC firm Dragonfly Capital, analyzed 202 tokens listed on Binance and found that the performance gap between tokens launched in bull and bear markets was negligible.

In terms of market data, Ethereum Layer 2 MegaETH's total value locked (TVL) has risen 65% in just one week, reaching $66.48 million. The majority of this growth is attributed to stablecoins, which account for the bulk of on-chain balances. Decentralized crypto exchange Kumbaya is the largest app on MegaETH by value locked, with roughly $51 million in TVL.

Despite these positive developments, the crypto market remains cautious, with prices slipping lower following the disappointing US jobs report. Bitcoin is currently trading around $67,500, down about 2% on the day and 1.7% over the past week. Ethereum is down slightly more, with 3% losses over the past 24 hours.

The total crypto market capitalization has fallen 2% over the past 24 hours to $2.39 trillion, with most of the top-10 tokens moderately lower on the day. However, some tokens, such as TRON (TRX), have posted slight gains, while others, such as Dogecoin (DOGE), have lost significant ground.

As the market navigates this uncertain landscape, regulatory developments and new data will be crucial in determining the industry's future. While the disappointing US jobs report has had a negative impact on prices, the SEC's decision to give Cardano a shortcut to a spot ETF and the CFTC's stance on prediction market regulation offer a glimmer of hope for the industry.

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