What the index measures
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index condenses several signals about the market into one number between 0 and 100. The idea behind it is simple: investors tend to get fearful when prices fall and greedy when they rise, and those emotions often push prices further than the underlying picture justifies. A very low reading suggests the market is anxious; a very high reading suggests it may be euphoric.
The reading shown above is published by Alternative.me, which compiles it from inputs such as price volatility, market momentum and volume, social signals and Bitcoin's share of the total market. We display the current value and the last 30 days exactly as published — we do not adjust or recompute it. You can read more about our sources on our methodology page.
How to read the zones
| Range | Zone | Rough interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 | Extreme fear | Widespread pessimism. Historically these periods have sometimes coincided with market lows — but fear can also be justified. |
| 25–44 | Fear | Caution dominates; buyers are hesitant. |
| 45–54 | Neutral | No strong emotional pull in either direction. |
| 55–75 | Greed | Optimism is building and money is flowing in. |
| 76–100 | Extreme greed | Euphoria. Historically these periods have sometimes preceded pullbacks — but momentum can also continue. |
Using it sensibly
The index is a contrarian-leaning mood gauge, not a buy or sell signal. The often-quoted maxim — be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful — captures the spirit of it, but markets can stay fearful or greedy far longer than seems reasonable, and the index says nothing about any individual coin. Treat it as one piece of context alongside the actual prices, market data and your own research.
This page is for information and education only. It is not investment advice, and market sentiment is not a prediction. Crypto assets are highly volatile and you can lose money. Please read our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Fear & Greed Index calculated?
It is compiled by Alternative.me from several inputs — price volatility, market momentum and volume, social signals and Bitcoin's share of the market. We display the published value and 30-day history exactly as released, without adjusting it. See our methodology.
Is a very high or very low reading a buy or sell signal?
No. The index is a contrarian-leaning mood gauge, not a trading signal. Markets can stay fearful or greedy far longer than seems reasonable, so treat it as one piece of context — never as advice. Please read our disclaimer.
How often does the reading update?
Alternative.me publishes the index daily, and we refresh the value and the 30-day history shown here to match. The date of the reading is shown near the top of the page.
Does the index tell me anything about a specific coin?
No. It measures sentiment across the crypto market as a whole and says nothing about any individual asset. For that, look at the actual coin prices and market data.