What the Fear & Greed Index is
The Fear & Greed Index summarizes crypto market sentiment as a single number from 0 (extreme fear) to 100 (extreme greed). alternative.me publishes it once a day, combining factors such as volatility, market momentum and volume, social media activity, Bitcoin dominance and search trends. The exact components and method follow the provider's own description.
What each zone means
0–24 Extreme Fear, 25–44 Fear, 45–55 Neutral, 56–75 Greed, 76–100 Extreme Greed. The table below describes each.
How people use it
- Contrarian view: rebounds have often followed extreme fear and pullbacks extreme greed, though not always.
- Trend context: in an uptrend, greed can persist for a long time; fading it on the index alone is risky.
- Risk gauge: volatility tends to rise at the extremes, so some traders shrink position size there.
Caveats
The index does not predict price. It partly reflects past price action, so it should not be a standalone signal. Values come from an external provider and can be delayed or revised.
FAQ
When does it update?
The provider updates once a day; this page re-fetches the latest value periodically.
Should I buy when the index is low?
You cannot conclude that — fear often deepens. Do not trade on the index alone.
What goes into it?
Volatility, market momentum and volume, social media, Bitcoin dominance and search trends, among others. See alternative.me for details.
How does it relate to the kimchi premium?
Both gauge market heat but are computed differently and do not always move together.