What is the Fear and Greed Index?
Markets are driven by emotion as much as by numbers. When prices fall fast, fear spreads and people sell at any price. When prices climb, greed takes over and buyers chase the move. The crypto Fear and Greed Index turns that mood into a single number from 0 to 100, so you can see at a glance whether the crypto market is panicking or euphoric.
How to read the index
- 0–24: Extreme FearPanic selling. Prices can overshoot to the downside, which some investors see as a buying opportunity.
- 25–44: FearInvestors are cautious and sentiment is negative.
- 45–55: NeutralNo strong emotion in either direction.
- 56–75: GreedOptimism is building and buyers are in control.
- 76–100: Extreme GreedEuphoria. The market may be overheated and due a correction.
How the crypto Fear and Greed Index is calculated
Alternative.me builds the daily score from several weighted signals, mostly based on Bitcoin:
- Volatility (25%): current volatility and drawdowns compared with the 30- and 90-day averages. Unusually high volatility is a sign of fear.
- Market momentum and volume (25%): high buying volume in a rising market signals greed.
- Social media (15%): how fast and how much people are posting about Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin dominance (10%): a rising share of Bitcoin in the crypto market suggests investors are retreating to safety.
- Google Trends (10%): search interest in terms such as "Bitcoin price manipulation" hints at fear.
- Surveys (15%): market polls, currently paused.
How traders use the Fear and Greed Index
The index is most often used as a contrarian indicator. Long-term investors look for periods of extreme fear to accumulate, and treat extreme greed as a signal to tighten risk or take profit. It pairs well with a plan such as dollar-cost averaging, and with tools that confirm market bottoms and tops on the chart.
It is not a timing tool on its own. Sentiment can stay extreme for weeks, and a low score does not mean prices cannot fall further. Use it as one input alongside price structure, position sizing and a clear exit plan.
Spot Bitcoin bottoms and tops on your chart
The Baggy BTC Whales Indicator marks accumulation and distribution zones on the BTCUSD daily chart in TradingView.
Crypto vs stock market Fear and Greed Index
CNN publishes a separate Fear and Greed Index for the US stock market, built from indicators such as market momentum, safe-haven demand and put/call ratios. This page tracks the crypto market. The two often move together in big risk-off events, but they can diverge, so check the one that matches what you trade.
Fear and Greed Index FAQ
What is the crypto Fear and Greed Index?
It is a daily score from 0 to 100 that sums up the mood of the crypto market, led by Bitcoin. Low scores mean investors are fearful and selling; high scores mean they are greedy and buying. The index is published by Alternative.me and updates once a day.
What is the Fear and Greed Index today?
The live value is shown at the top of this page, along with yesterday, last week and last month for comparison. It refreshes automatically after each daily update at 00:00 UTC.
How is the crypto Fear and Greed Index calculated?
Alternative.me combines several signals: volatility compared with the 30- and 90-day averages (25%), market momentum and volume (25%), social media activity (15%), Bitcoin dominance (10%) and Google search trends (10%). A surveys component (15%) is currently paused.
Is extreme fear a good time to buy Bitcoin?
Some investors treat extreme fear as a possible buying opportunity because panic can push prices below fair value, and extreme greed as a warning that the market may be overheated. It is a sentiment gauge, not a timing signal, so combine it with your own analysis and risk management.
Is this the same as the CNN Fear and Greed Index?
No. CNN publishes a separate Fear and Greed Index for the US stock market, based on stock market indicators. This page tracks the crypto market. Both use the same 0 to 100 scale and the same five moods.
Where can I see the Fear and Greed Index history?
Use the history chart on this page to view 30 days, 90 days, one year or every reading since February 2018, with the Bitcoin price overlaid. You can also look up the exact value for any date.