Crypto Fear & Greed Index
Monitor the Crypto Fear & Greed Index — a sentiment indicator derived from volatility, volume, social media, and market momentum. Updated daily.
How the Fear & Greed Index Works
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index measures market sentiment on a scale from 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed). It combines data from volatility, market momentum, social media, and surveys to produce a single number that reflects crowd psychology.
The index weighs several factors: Bitcoin price volatility (25%), market momentum and volume (25%), social media sentiment analysis (15%), Bitcoin dominance (10%), and Google Trends data for crypto-related search terms (10%). The remaining 15% historically came from surveys, though this component has been deprecated. Each factor is normalized and combined into the 0–100 composite score.
For perpetual futures traders, extreme readings are particularly useful as contrarian signals. When the index drops below 20 (Extreme Fear), funding rates often turn negative as shorts dominate — creating potential long entry points and cash-and-carry arbitrage opportunities. During Extreme Greed phases above 80, elevated positive funding and high open interest frequently precede sharp corrections and long liquidation cascades.
Historically, periods of extreme fear have often coincided with buying opportunities, while extreme greed can signal overbought conditions. The 30-day history chart below the gauge shows the trend over time, helping you identify whether sentiment is shifting or holding steady. The index updates once daily.
How the Fear & Greed Index works
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index aggregates multiple data sources into a single 0-100 score. Below 25 is "Extreme Fear" -- historically the best time to accumulate. Above 75 is "Extreme Greed" -- when corrections become likely. The index weighs volatility (25%), market momentum and volume (25%), social media sentiment (15%), surveys (15%), BTC dominance (10%), and Google Trends (10%).
The index hit 10 (Extreme Fear) in June 2022 near the cycle bottom and stayed above 80 (Extreme Greed) for weeks before the April 2024 correction. It's not a timing tool -- extreme readings can persist for weeks -- but it sets the baseline for risk. During Extreme Greed, tighten stops and reduce position sizes. During Extreme Fear, start building watchlists and scale into positions. Check long/short ratios and sentiment data for more granular confirmation.
The most actionable setup is when Fear & Greed diverges from price action. If BTC makes a new high but the index is declining from Greed to Neutral, it signals weakening conviction -- a bearish divergence. Pair this with declining open interest on the move and you have a strong case for a reversal.