What inputs make up the Fear & Greed Index?

The index (popularized by Alternative.me) combines six weighted signals: price volatility (25%), market momentum and volume (25%), social media sentiment (15%), Bitcoin dominance (10%), Google Trends (10%), and surveys (15%). Weights vary slightly by provider.

Is Extreme Fear always a buy signal?

Not automatically. Extreme Fear historically coincides with price bottoms, but markets can stay fearful for extended periods during genuine bear markets. Most traders treat it as one data point among many, not a standalone trigger.

Is Extreme Greed always a sell signal?

Similarly, no. Greed can persist in strong bull markets for weeks. The index is best used to raise or lower caution levels, not as a mechanical entry/exit system.

How often is the index updated?

Most providers (Alternative.me, CNN Business) update it daily. Intraday changes are generally too noisy for meaningful interpretation.

What is a "neutral" reading?

Scores between 46 and 55 are considered neutral — the market has no strong emotional bias in either direction. These periods often precede a decisive move once a catalyst arrives.

Crypto Fear & Greed Index Explainer

Name: Crypto Fear & Greed Index Explainer
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter any Fear & Greed Index value (0–100) to see what zone it falls in, what the market sentiment means, and how traders typically respond.

Index Value Lookup

Enter any value 0–100 to see the zone, sentiment, and trader context.

50 score

Neutral

Typical Reaction

Contrarian Take

Full Scale Reference

0–20

21–45

46–55

56–79

80–100

Zone	Range	What It Signals

How the Index Is Calculated

Price Volatility

Weight: ~25%

Compares current BTC volatility and drawdown to 30-day and 90-day averages. High volatility raises the Fear score.

Market Momentum / Volume

Weight: ~25%

Compares current buy volume against the historical average. Strong buying momentum pushes the index toward Greed.

Social Media Sentiment

Weight: ~15%

Counts and analyzes crypto-related posts and engagement on platforms like Twitter/X. High interaction rates signal Greed.

Surveys

Weight: ~15%

Weekly polls asking participants about their short-term market outlook. Currently paused by some providers pending methodology review.

Bitcoin Dominance

Weight: ~10%

Rising BTC dominance often signals Fear (flight to the "safest" crypto); falling dominance signals speculative Greed in altcoins.

Google Trends

Weight: ~10%

Analyzes search volume for terms like "bitcoin price manipulation." Rising fearful searches push the score toward Fear.

Summary

Enter any Fear & Greed Index value (0–100) to see what zone it falls in, what the market sentiment means, and how traders typically respond.

How it works

Enter a value between 0 and 100 in the lookup field, or drag the slider.
The tool highlights the zone on the scale: Extreme Fear, Fear, Neutral, Greed, or Extreme Greed.
Read the zone description to understand the current market sentiment.
Review the typical trader reactions and the contrarian interpretation for that zone.
Use the full reference table below the lookup to compare all five zones at once.

Use cases

Quickly remind yourself what a published Fear & Greed reading actually means.
Teach beginners how market sentiment is categorized on the 0–100 scale.
Combine with technical analysis to confirm entries during extreme-fear dips.
Avoid buying into extreme-greed peaks by understanding the historical mean-reversion tendency.
Share a specific zone interpretation with others explaining your trade rationale.
Use as a reference before reading crypto news to contextualize sentiment-driven articles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by Nham Vu