Bitcoin Fear Gauge Stays in ‘Fear’ Zone, Signalling Market Exhaustion

Investor sentiment remains weak for a full week as bitcoin consolidates around $100K, echoing past pre-bottom patterns.

Oct 22, 2025

Bitcoin’s Fear and Greed Index has lingered in fear territory (24/100) for seven straight days, the longest stretch since March, as the price hovers between $103,000 and $115,000, suggesting a period of market fatigue that historically precedes local bottoms.

Sentiment Stuck in the Fear Zone

According to data from CoinGlass, the Fear and Greed Index, a barometer that captures investor emotions on a 0–100 scale, has remained in fear since October 11, right after the year’s largest crypto liquidation event. Bitcoin has since traded sideways, consolidating near $108,000 with no clear breakout momentum.

Periods of sustained fear have often preceded recovery rallies. A similar stretch in March–April 2025, following President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement, marked bitcoin’s local bottom around $76,000 before it rebounded sharply.

Consolidation Over Capitulation

Despite nervous sentiment, the market isn’t collapsing, it’s pausing. The Choppiness Index, a volatility gauge from Checkonchain, currently sits at 60 on the weekly chart, one of the highest readings in recent years. High choppiness readings typically indicate range-bound markets before a decisive directional move.

On a monthly basis, the index stands at 55, approaching historical turning points seen in November 2021 and late 2024. Combined with muted volatility, this suggests traders are waiting for new catalysts rather than exiting positions.

Fear Before the Next Move

Market data shows bitcoin spent just seven days in “greed” this past month, coinciding with its $126,000 all-time high in early October. The shift back to fear may indicate that short-term traders have exited, leaving long-term holders to accumulate.

Analysts view this sentiment cooling as a healthy reset. Persistent fear levels often coincide with selling exhaustion, laying the groundwork for renewed accumulation once volatility compresses further.

Hidden Signal

Bitcoin’s extended stay in fear, alongside elevated choppiness, mirrors the kind of emotional flatline that often precedes strong rebounds. The signal isn’t panic; it’s fatigue, a quiet stretch that could set the stage for bitcoin’s next directional surge once volatility breaks.

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