Bitcoin Pauses Around $81,000 After US CPI Hits 3.8%

Bitcoin paused near $81,000 on Tuesday after the US Consumer Price Index rose 3.8% year‑over‑year in April, the highest annual rate since 2023. Price data showed sharp intraday swings as traders reacted to the report.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the energy index rose 3.8% in April, accounting for more than 40% of the monthly increase in all items. The BLS said energy prices were nearly 18% higher over the past 12 months and noted pressure on oil supplies linked to the US‑Iran conflict. The agency also recorded monthly declines in indexes for new vehicles, communications and medical care.

The inflation surprise weighed on risk assets and produced classic intraday volatility in bitcoin, with prices circling roughly $81,000. Market participants referenced short‑term support levels while a longer‑term 200‑day moving average acted as resistance.

Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe wrote on X that the 21‑day simple moving average, near $78,800, was a short‑term level to watch and that a wider support zone around $76,000 should not be breached to avoid further downward pressure.

Market‑monitoring firm Material Indicators flagged the 200‑day simple moving average near $82,600 as resistance and wrote that bulls were attempting to flip $80,700 into support to mount another challenge at the longer‑term trend line.

Trading commentary from the Kobeissi Letter noted rising odds of the Federal Reserve returning to interest‑rate hikes. The CME Group FedWatch Tool showed market‑implied probabilities that keep policy rates elevated through 2026.

Market participants will monitor incoming economic data, Federal Reserve comments, interest‑rate futures and developments that affect oil supplies and prices. Traders and analytics firms noted that both macro data and technical levels are likely to influence bitcoin’s path in the coming days.