Practical Guide to Using the Investing Economic Calendar for Crypto Trading

Crypto traders need to understand one key fact: digital markets do not move in isolation. Global economic announcements, especially those from the U.S. market, create waves of volatility that directly impact Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other assets. To navigate this accurately, mastering Investing’s economic calendar is essential.

Access the calendar and apply strategic filters

The first step is to go to Investing’s economic calendar. Once there, you’ll see events listed from dozens of countries. To focus on what truly matters for cryptocurrency trading, go to the filters section located in the top right corner. Select “United States” to isolate U.S. economic events, which have the greatest impact on global crypto markets.

If other countries are marked in the filter, disable them. This is not just an aesthetic preference: it’s about removing noise and maintaining focus on the movements that truly define digital market cycles.

Prioritize events based on their impact: three stars

Investing’s economic calendar uses a star rating system. Here’s the key: not all events are equal. Some cause market movements of just a few basis points, while others trigger swings of 5%, 10%, or more.

When setting your filters, focus exclusively on three-star events. These are the indicators that truly shake the markets. Among them you’ll find:

• Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP): U.S. employment data is a barometer of the economy. Each first Friday of the month, this data causes cascades of movement.
• Federal Reserve announcements: Interest rate decisions are crucial. Crypto traders pay special attention to these dates because they directly affect the cost of capital.
• GDP reports: Overall economic growth is the backdrop for everything. Weak GDP can trigger rushes into “safe” assets like Bitcoin.

Disabling one- and two-star events saves time and allows you to focus on what really matters.

Interpret the data: before, during, and after

When you open each event on Investing’s calendar, you’ll see three critical columns:

• Previous data: What happened in the prior period
• Forecast: What analysts expect to happen
• Actual result: What actually occurred

The magic happens in the comparison. If NFP was expected to be 200,000 jobs but only 120,000 were reported, the market will interpret this as a negative surprise. This usually weakens the dollar, which historically benefits Bitcoin. Conversely, if the result exceeds expectations, the dollar strengthens and cryptocurrencies often retreat.

Experienced traders use Investing’s calendar to anticipate news and position themselves before the market completes its reaction. It’s the difference between moving with the wave and surfing it from the start.

Why Investing’s economic calendar is your ally

Many crypto traders believe they can ignore the traditional economic calendar. That’s a costly mistake. Digital markets have matured: they now respond to the same macroeconomic drivers as conventional markets. Having access to Investing’s calendar and knowing how to interpret it is not an extra advantage; it’s a necessity.

Make it a habit: every Monday, review the upcoming week’s events. Mark the three-star events. Plan how to position yourself. This system will help you evolve from impulsive traders to strategic ones.