Fear & Greed Index Briefly Hit Extreme Fear: Why?

In the high drama of the crypto world, market sentiment can shift dramatically overnight. Last week, true to drama queen style, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index threw itself off the “greed” ledge into the lows of “Extreme Fear” territory. On October 17, 2025, the index sat at a chilling “22” on the dial. As of Tuesday the 28th October, it has returned to plain old “neutral”. It’s this type of crypto soap opera that keeps the crypto kids coming back for more

But what caused particular faceplant to “extreme fear”?

Why Did the Index Hit Extreme Fear?

Bitcoin (as of the 28th October 2025) is currently trading around US$114,000, down from its all-time high of $126,210 reached on October 6, 2025.

The dramatic plunge came about after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports in early October. This triggered over US$19 billion in liquidations.

Bitcoin briefly dropped below US$102,000 during the October 11 selloff, before rebounding to the US$114,000 figure of today.

Ethereum had fallen to approximately US$3,900, from around US$4700 just weeks before, while major altcoins including Solana and Cardano have also experienced similar volatility.

These price jumps directly impact the index’s fear component, as erratic swings shake investor confidence. The tariff shock and subsequent recovery have created whiplash conditions that push sentiment to extremes in both directions.

What Does This Mean for Crypto Investors?

Extreme Fear isn’t necessarily catastrophic. Historically, moments of extreme fear have sometimes preceded strong market rebounds, as panicked selling creates opportunities for value investors. More or less, there’s people waiting for these specific moments to start buying at a “discount”.

But, that is assuming that prices will go back up. And we all know in crypto, there is no guarantee that will happen. Prices could fall further, so you still have to make good choices, unlike your decision to buy Fartcoin on the downward slide

What is the Fear and Greed Index?

For those new to the crypto space, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index is a popular tool developed by Alternative.me that measures the emotional pulse of the Bitcoin and broader cryptocurrency market. It aggregates data from various sources, including market volatility, trading volume, social media sentiment, Bitcoin dominance, and Google Trends for crypto-related searches. The index ranges from 0 to 100:

• 0-24: Extreme Fear (investors are terrified, often leading to oversold conditions)
• 25-49: Fear (caution dominates, prices may be undervalued)
• 50: Neutral (balanced sentiment)
• 51-74: Greed (optimism grows, potential overvaluation)
• 75-100: Extreme Greed (euphoria, risk of a bubble)

When the index hits Extreme Fear, some investors may see it as a buying opportunity for long-term holders. Others will be crying into their Bitcoin Maxi mugs and maybe even swapping it for a shot glass.

But, of course, this is one quality soap opera where we all do it for the plot

Climbing the Wall of Worry: A Good Sign?

Interestingly, the current market conditions may actually represent what traders call “climbing the wall of worry”. It is a phenomenon where markets can rise despite everyone feeling spooked.

Bitcoin was trading within 20% of its all-time high while the Fear and Greed Index sat at extreme fear levels. When sentiment and price are far apart, this is sometimes considered a bullish signal. The fact that Bitcoin held above US$108,000 despite extreme fear readings could indicate underlying strength rather than impending collapse.

Whether this applies to the crypto markets and to this particular situation over time is yet to be seen.

Is the Indicator Still Reliable?

There’s a growing debate about whether the Fear and Greed Index remains as predictive as it once was. The cryptocurrency market has matured significantly since the indicator’s creation, with institutional investors, ETFs, and sophisticated trading strategies now dominating trading volumes.

These professional participants may not react to market conditions in the same emotionally-driven ways that individual investors do. The index may just be reflecting noise rather than solid signals in today’s more mature market structure.

The Endurance of Extreme Fear

It’s also worth noting that extreme fear readings can persist far longer than many investors expect. During previous bear markets, the Fear and Greed Index has remained in extreme fear territory for weeks or even months at a time

The extreme fear might signal a buying opportunity, but timing the exact bottom is what investing dreams are made of, but not every investor gets this right!